A special environment exists in one of the Air Force Academy buildings.  On the 6th floor of the Air Force Academy McDermott Library is a special room with the Clark Special Collections historical documents pertinent to the Air Force.

These archival documents are stored in a room that feels oddly humid.  The environment is kept in an optimal condition to keep aged documents from being damaged by Colorado’s arid high desert climate.  Of note, there are items from Albert P Clark’s time as a prisoner of war in Poland after being shot down in World War II.  By carefully controlling the atmosphere within the room these items will be enjoyed for many decades to come.

Cigar aficionados will tell you about the crucial role of the environment in the proper storage of premium stogies.  Some humidors are about the size of a cigar box while others, located in cigar clubs and stores, are the size of a giant master bedroom.  One famous basketball player has an entire room in his mansion equipped as a humidor with negative pressure to keep the environment conducive for smoking cigars. These humidors keep the cigars moist which smokers will assure you is paramount to enjoying a relaxing smoke.

Much effort is spent creating environments for Christmas holidays.  Trees are dragged from their storage areas with assortments of lights and ornaments.  Candles and little villages are placed throughout a person’s home in order to help harvest that holiday cheer.  Parties are hosted, gifts are given and often family travel is involved as part of that entire Christmas experience. Who can forget the Hallmark movies with very predictable plots involving a recovered relationship under the shadows of dangling mistletoe?

It is not uncommon to witness the environment of a room suddenly change dependent on who may have just entered.  Sometimes it is the life of the party arriving where laughter and animated conversation takes on a life of its own.  However, at times it can be a domineering negative person causing an uncomfortable situation for all present in the room.   Perhaps it’s a boss or dignitary whose arrival changes the entire complexity of a gathering.

It is very important to consider the environment we create in our relationship with Jesus Christ. My mentor, Bob McLeod of Jacksonville, Alabama used to talk about ’thank you therapy.’  Bob said we should start our prayers with God by thanking Him for what he has done in our lives. In fact, if you find yourself disgruntled with your employer, practice thank you therapy on your next day at work, thanking God for at least five things related to your job. Should you be frustrated with your church and pastor, the next time you attend services look around and thank the Lord for a few things about the church.

Setting up an atmosphere of thankfulness in your life can transform your outlook on life.  This pattern of thanking God can slow the negative mind chatter which can be overwhelming in our lives.  Environmental assessments occur incessantly in the natural world. Maybe it’s time for a spiritual environmental assessment as we consider the ways in which we relate to our God. Could it be if we spend more time thanking God rather than complaining or asking Him for things, our outlook on life would take on a new character?

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Tony “T-Bar” Barnes is a 28-year veteran of the Marine Corps and Air Force. He is also retired from the Department of Veteran Affairs and can be reached at tbarnugget@yahoo.com