So, without further ado...go find your old country road...or your old green chair where you can sit with your Papa :) and do it. Do it with Him. Seek Him with all of your heart.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
I see Jesus
So, without further ado...go find your old country road...or your old green chair where you can sit with your Papa :) and do it. Do it with Him. Seek Him with all of your heart.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Help! I got lost in a proverb.
About a week ago, I wrote an entry called "Explicit Truth." Since then, I have been mulling over the words of Jesus and the way that he spoke. I find it stopping me a bit in my tracks, that He, at times was explicit, but most times implicit. Why? Because the Truth can hold His own.
Have we lost the art of speaking in parables? Of sharing truth with others through the art of a creative narrative with a beautiful treasure of truth hidden inside? Do we fear that people aren't hungry enough that if they have to work to understand something they won't? Are we convinced that people have lots their curiosity and we aren't truly representing Christ if we don't make everything on the road towards him incredibly simple to understand? I'm afraid I've been guilty of this.
The idea of implicit truth is difficult for me to wrap my mind around at first. It almost feels like we're not being true to other people and not being fair to them to make them dig a little to find and uncover the actual truth. But, aren't those the only people who will receive it anyways? What does it look like for us to not "toss our pearls to swine" but to take after Jesus and enjoy the narrative and struggle through both parables and proverbs?
The Bible is filled with hidden treasures waiting to be dusted off and discovered and explored. They are there for hungry people to find. There is heart cutting truth and life giving lessons carefully compacted and crafted into two line proverbs. The meaning of life is revealed in a ten line parables. That's amazing. STOP. Re-read that for a second. It's truly amazing. It requires struggle, revelation, and hunger to discover what lies in the stories Jesus spoke. What a beautiful thing. Perhaps, us westerners could learn a few lessons from those in the east who seem to understand and respect the sage and the guru. The sage and guru don't shy away from proverbs and parables, scared their followers won't get it. They know that they must struggle through it. I can't remember the last time that I heard a pastor give a riddle, proverb, or parable to his people without immediately spelling it out for them.
Since God kinda created us...He knows the way we work. He knows that our minds best understand and remember stories, not long lists of unconnected facts and bullet points. Yet so often...we get 5 point messages in church. Sometimes great lists of points,(sometimes not) other times pretty watered down and just deep enough to satisfy those who want to feel holy and spiritual(doesn't require much...just a few big words and flowery sentences) and not deep enough to cause any response in those who are truly hungry or want to be challenged.
Maybe...we should learn the art of a parable. Maybe we should learn the art of speaking to the heart of the questioner rather than chickening out and responding straight to their question. Have you ever noticed how rarely Jesus answered people's questions? He addressed the issue behind the question. With heart cutting accuracy He pinpoints the issue and silences people with one sentence as they are left to face themselves. That, is incredible. I believe we can do this, too. We've just decided we can't.
Perhaps, if we stop spoon feeding people the bits of truth that we think that they can handle, and stop trying to gradually emerge them in truth, stop trying to shove truth in their face...maybe if we set up a stage where they hear truth and depth hinted at through the way that we speak and live...they will remember their appetite and hunger for truth and grow hungrier and more determined as the dig and dig to uncover it and come face to face with the only Truth.
I'm from the States...as are some of you. So, I can say that we pretty much suck as a whole at implicit truth. Too many want the easy way, so the pastors go along with that, the worship leaders go along with that, and the people go along with that. They go along with it to the point that Jesus...really wouldn't fit in so well with the people that are his name-sake. Perhaps, we should get ourselves firm in truth, and confident in it. It's like...so many don't actually believe it is the truth so they're scared to give it to the people in a way that they have to work for it because they're afraid it's not worth it. My friend, if it's not worth it to you...then please, stop your masquerade and leading people into a cult-like lifestyle parading under the name christian.
When we water things down...we lose the people who are truly radical and want a challenge. Have you noticed the people on the outskirts of society? The ones that talk, dress, walk differently? (you know...the ones that are still thinking and aren't satisfied with the answers they've been given?) They stand out in a strange way...almost like the prophets did in the Old Testament...weird huh? Those amazing people who are hardcore...just need to experience the presence of God...but they're so put off by christians that we have actually become a detour on their way home to their Father. How can we do that to the fatherless generation? I don't want to come between anyone and their Dad.
So, without further ado, teach us what it looks like to be brilliant in parables and implicit truth. Teach us when to be explicit and when to be implicit. May you be glorified in it all. Take us away from our flowery, watered down, feel good, spoon fed truth(so disguised the truth is barely recognizable), and lead us into a place where we speak truth.
Have we lost the art of speaking in parables? Of sharing truth with others through the art of a creative narrative with a beautiful treasure of truth hidden inside? Do we fear that people aren't hungry enough that if they have to work to understand something they won't? Are we convinced that people have lots their curiosity and we aren't truly representing Christ if we don't make everything on the road towards him incredibly simple to understand? I'm afraid I've been guilty of this.
The idea of implicit truth is difficult for me to wrap my mind around at first. It almost feels like we're not being true to other people and not being fair to them to make them dig a little to find and uncover the actual truth. But, aren't those the only people who will receive it anyways? What does it look like for us to not "toss our pearls to swine" but to take after Jesus and enjoy the narrative and struggle through both parables and proverbs?
The Bible is filled with hidden treasures waiting to be dusted off and discovered and explored. They are there for hungry people to find. There is heart cutting truth and life giving lessons carefully compacted and crafted into two line proverbs. The meaning of life is revealed in a ten line parables. That's amazing. STOP. Re-read that for a second. It's truly amazing. It requires struggle, revelation, and hunger to discover what lies in the stories Jesus spoke. What a beautiful thing. Perhaps, us westerners could learn a few lessons from those in the east who seem to understand and respect the sage and the guru. The sage and guru don't shy away from proverbs and parables, scared their followers won't get it. They know that they must struggle through it. I can't remember the last time that I heard a pastor give a riddle, proverb, or parable to his people without immediately spelling it out for them.
Since God kinda created us...He knows the way we work. He knows that our minds best understand and remember stories, not long lists of unconnected facts and bullet points. Yet so often...we get 5 point messages in church. Sometimes great lists of points,(sometimes not) other times pretty watered down and just deep enough to satisfy those who want to feel holy and spiritual(doesn't require much...just a few big words and flowery sentences) and not deep enough to cause any response in those who are truly hungry or want to be challenged.
Maybe...we should learn the art of a parable. Maybe we should learn the art of speaking to the heart of the questioner rather than chickening out and responding straight to their question. Have you ever noticed how rarely Jesus answered people's questions? He addressed the issue behind the question. With heart cutting accuracy He pinpoints the issue and silences people with one sentence as they are left to face themselves. That, is incredible. I believe we can do this, too. We've just decided we can't.
Perhaps, if we stop spoon feeding people the bits of truth that we think that they can handle, and stop trying to gradually emerge them in truth, stop trying to shove truth in their face...maybe if we set up a stage where they hear truth and depth hinted at through the way that we speak and live...they will remember their appetite and hunger for truth and grow hungrier and more determined as the dig and dig to uncover it and come face to face with the only Truth.
I'm from the States...as are some of you. So, I can say that we pretty much suck as a whole at implicit truth. Too many want the easy way, so the pastors go along with that, the worship leaders go along with that, and the people go along with that. They go along with it to the point that Jesus...really wouldn't fit in so well with the people that are his name-sake. Perhaps, we should get ourselves firm in truth, and confident in it. It's like...so many don't actually believe it is the truth so they're scared to give it to the people in a way that they have to work for it because they're afraid it's not worth it. My friend, if it's not worth it to you...then please, stop your masquerade and leading people into a cult-like lifestyle parading under the name christian.
When we water things down...we lose the people who are truly radical and want a challenge. Have you noticed the people on the outskirts of society? The ones that talk, dress, walk differently? (you know...the ones that are still thinking and aren't satisfied with the answers they've been given?) They stand out in a strange way...almost like the prophets did in the Old Testament...weird huh? Those amazing people who are hardcore...just need to experience the presence of God...but they're so put off by christians that we have actually become a detour on their way home to their Father. How can we do that to the fatherless generation? I don't want to come between anyone and their Dad.
So, without further ado, teach us what it looks like to be brilliant in parables and implicit truth. Teach us when to be explicit and when to be implicit. May you be glorified in it all. Take us away from our flowery, watered down, feel good, spoon fed truth(so disguised the truth is barely recognizable), and lead us into a place where we speak truth.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Superstar me?
I heard it said (where I don't remember) that the biggest problem with our generation is that we who follow Jesus all want to be superstars. We all struggle with wanting to be the important leader, musician, the one that everyone has heard of. Is that true? When I first heard that statement I had to chew on it for a bit.
Well, I've pretty much chewed it to a pulp and I think it's a pretty accurate statement. What does it look like for someone to live a life that is marked by faithfulness, perseverance, no compromise, and love? Perhaps you've met some of those people. I have. Usually they're about 10-30 years older than me, and very few of them have had world-wide recognition for what they've done, many of them haven't even been known across their own country. But, their lives have left a bigger mark in the kingdom of God than huge movements of people have done. Their commitment to the people on their street, in their neighborhood, and town has changed lives forever.
I'm not striving to be insignificant. Here me out on this. But, I am recognizing that when I live an incredibly significant life, it is absolutely possible to never be seen as "important" or to be the face on the next New York Times bestseller. My friends, are we ok with this? Are you ok not being the most important person in your church, the person with the most swag, the go to for everything? Are you willing to truly give it all...perhaps that means you'll become the person everyone across the country knows about...(it happens) but the reality is that the church and the kingdom of God and this world need way more people living quiet, faithful, committed lives than we need superstars. When was the last time a superstar changed your life?
So, without further ado...let's try to shake this superstar mentality and show those who have gone before us that we do have a firm foundation and are content being obedient, humble, and righteous.
Well, I've pretty much chewed it to a pulp and I think it's a pretty accurate statement. What does it look like for someone to live a life that is marked by faithfulness, perseverance, no compromise, and love? Perhaps you've met some of those people. I have. Usually they're about 10-30 years older than me, and very few of them have had world-wide recognition for what they've done, many of them haven't even been known across their own country. But, their lives have left a bigger mark in the kingdom of God than huge movements of people have done. Their commitment to the people on their street, in their neighborhood, and town has changed lives forever.
I'm not striving to be insignificant. Here me out on this. But, I am recognizing that when I live an incredibly significant life, it is absolutely possible to never be seen as "important" or to be the face on the next New York Times bestseller. My friends, are we ok with this? Are you ok not being the most important person in your church, the person with the most swag, the go to for everything? Are you willing to truly give it all...perhaps that means you'll become the person everyone across the country knows about...(it happens) but the reality is that the church and the kingdom of God and this world need way more people living quiet, faithful, committed lives than we need superstars. When was the last time a superstar changed your life?
So, without further ado...let's try to shake this superstar mentality and show those who have gone before us that we do have a firm foundation and are content being obedient, humble, and righteous.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
How do we see
What happens if each time we look at another person we treat them as if they already were who they were made to be? What happens if each time we look someone at someone, we look them in the eyes, not to find what needs fixed but to hear their story? What if we listen to hear who they are and see what they need and show them love instead of trying to dig up what they're doing wrong?
I think that most of us would admit we have flaws (or...at least I do!)...and in the church we talk a lot about grace. But, I'm not sure we truly grasp it. Grace looks like us recognizing we're not perfect and because of grace, we know that no longer does that keep us from God. Grace doesn't look like us have a ticket to the anything-I-wanna-do-anytime-I-wanna 24hr buffet. Most people who have been in church have also heard that. But, how much have we heard about embracing each other and strangers on the street like they already have been covered in grace?
I find myself easily slipping into evaluating everything and everyone if I'm not careful. When I do, it stresses me out. Why? Because...although we're meant to be discerning and confront each other when there are issues, we weren't made to constantly be trying to only find what's wrong with the person in front of us. Yet, so often we live like this.
What if....our elders looked at us like we had already been covered in grace and saw us as who we were meant to be? What if instead of the older generation always talking about what is wrong with the younger generation, they talked about what's right about them and the plans God has for them? What if we as the younger generation embraced the generations before us in the same way? hmm....just some food for thought.
Do you remember a time when you messed up terribly and you were greeted with love, and forgiveness and the time you messed up was forgotten? My bet, is if you experienced that..that time changed your life. Do you remember a time when someone treated you as if you had nothing good to offer, saw only the things you needed to work on, and brought up everything you had ever done wrong against them? My bet, is if you had a time like this...that time changed your life. How do you want to change someone's life? You have plenty of chances.
So, without further ado....what does it look like to switch our thinking in the way we perceive others? Do you already see other people as who they were made to be or do their flaws stick out at you like a sore thumb and you can't seem to get past them?
I think that most of us would admit we have flaws (or...at least I do!)...and in the church we talk a lot about grace. But, I'm not sure we truly grasp it. Grace looks like us recognizing we're not perfect and because of grace, we know that no longer does that keep us from God. Grace doesn't look like us have a ticket to the anything-I-wanna-do-anytime-I-wanna 24hr buffet. Most people who have been in church have also heard that. But, how much have we heard about embracing each other and strangers on the street like they already have been covered in grace?
I find myself easily slipping into evaluating everything and everyone if I'm not careful. When I do, it stresses me out. Why? Because...although we're meant to be discerning and confront each other when there are issues, we weren't made to constantly be trying to only find what's wrong with the person in front of us. Yet, so often we live like this.
What if....our elders looked at us like we had already been covered in grace and saw us as who we were meant to be? What if instead of the older generation always talking about what is wrong with the younger generation, they talked about what's right about them and the plans God has for them? What if we as the younger generation embraced the generations before us in the same way? hmm....just some food for thought.
Do you remember a time when you messed up terribly and you were greeted with love, and forgiveness and the time you messed up was forgotten? My bet, is if you experienced that..that time changed your life. Do you remember a time when someone treated you as if you had nothing good to offer, saw only the things you needed to work on, and brought up everything you had ever done wrong against them? My bet, is if you had a time like this...that time changed your life. How do you want to change someone's life? You have plenty of chances.
So, without further ado....what does it look like to switch our thinking in the way we perceive others? Do you already see other people as who they were made to be or do their flaws stick out at you like a sore thumb and you can't seem to get past them?
Friday, February 17, 2012
Explicit Truth
Warning: Entry may contain explicit content not considered appropriate for those who rely on common sense and the intrinsic good of man.
EXPLICIT sure draws attention doesn't it? It's usually printed in bold font just to help communicate the idea of warning. Usually printed in black, white, or red to further echo the meaning itself. My question is how did explicit become a word that elicits the connotation that it currently does?
You see, the dictionary says:
As I thought about this idea, I thought about how I don't want to trick someone into hearing about Jesus. But how desperately I truly want people to receive His message. Somehow, I find myself in the midst of Redemption's Story, the Great I Am...wondering how I got myself in the thick of it. But, the thicket's clearing in the forrest of mystery as the Great I AM reveals himself to me.
I've written a slew of words about creativity. It's been brewing even more than what I've written inside of my mind. The burning question inside of me is what does it look like to represent Christ...THE explicit Truth as true to who he is and with the creativity that He has given us. I want to be creative. The world is creative in its deception, our Father is the Creator, we should mimic him with our creativity and blow everything else out of the water as the clone and fake charade that it is.
There was a precious asian man on the streets of San Francisco yesterday. Characterized as eccentric, radical, and crazy this man modeled a long beard and eyes that pierced with truth. His goal? To tell people about the truth. He was shouting, desperate for the message of truth to be heard. He was ridiculed, he stood out, he had passion. His eyes met my boyfriend's as he stood next to him, the man with the beard instantly recognized the truth in my boyfriend's eyes, nodded to him, and in a little while encouraged him with words of urgency saying, "You have to tell them! They have to know!" Talk about a life changing moment. The man with the beard knows that there is only one thing worth living for. I know his tactic is not usually mine, but the reality is that he is doing something. He woke up with one purpose. He is in love with the Creator.
Often, we make excuses for not being explicit. We say that it doesn't work. But, maybe we could learn something from that older man on the streets yesterday. He was explicit in his message. Sometimes, I write a song and my message is implicit instead of explicit. I hide the truth for those who are hungry, or do I hide it out of a fear of being explicit? Christ was both brilliantly explicit by how bright he shone on earth and yet implicit through use of parables and rarely giving a straight answer.
I think, maybe for awhile, the people around us could benefit from our message being labeled EXPLICIT . Redemption's story alone is the most creative narrative ever written and lived out. Even if we don't know how to present it perfectly, it is strong enough to stand on its own. Trust that the Holy Spirit truly can and will guide your words as you step out in faith and love. Don't beat people with the truth, approach them humbly, knowing that you and I were right were they were at one time.
So, without further ado, who's with me? Who's ready to carry around the explicit Truth?
EXPLICIT sure draws attention doesn't it? It's usually printed in bold font just to help communicate the idea of warning. Usually printed in black, white, or red to further echo the meaning itself. My question is how did explicit become a word that elicits the connotation that it currently does?
You see, the dictionary says:
explicit |ikĖsplisit|adjectivestated clearly and in detail, leaving no room for confusion or doubt : the speaker's intentions were not made explicit.• (of a person) stating something in such a way : let me be explicit.So, let me be explicit, to interlace this monologue, if you will, with what offends: the explicit truth. Last night as I was falling asleep I was thinking about being explicit and what a stir just having the title "Explicit Truth" on something could cause. I pictured it on burned CD's and thought about writing in bold sharpie marker EXPLICIT and just leaving those CDs everywhere I go. I wondered how many people would pick it up, and look both ways to see if anyone noticed before slipping it into their coat pocket, sleeve, or bag. I smirked, imagining their surprise if when they pulled it up on their computer they saw a video based on the life and truth and love of Jesus and wondered what their reaction would be. (who's with me on trying this?? hahaha!)
As I thought about this idea, I thought about how I don't want to trick someone into hearing about Jesus. But how desperately I truly want people to receive His message. Somehow, I find myself in the midst of Redemption's Story, the Great I Am...wondering how I got myself in the thick of it. But, the thicket's clearing in the forrest of mystery as the Great I AM reveals himself to me.
I've written a slew of words about creativity. It's been brewing even more than what I've written inside of my mind. The burning question inside of me is what does it look like to represent Christ...THE explicit Truth as true to who he is and with the creativity that He has given us. I want to be creative. The world is creative in its deception, our Father is the Creator, we should mimic him with our creativity and blow everything else out of the water as the clone and fake charade that it is.
There was a precious asian man on the streets of San Francisco yesterday. Characterized as eccentric, radical, and crazy this man modeled a long beard and eyes that pierced with truth. His goal? To tell people about the truth. He was shouting, desperate for the message of truth to be heard. He was ridiculed, he stood out, he had passion. His eyes met my boyfriend's as he stood next to him, the man with the beard instantly recognized the truth in my boyfriend's eyes, nodded to him, and in a little while encouraged him with words of urgency saying, "You have to tell them! They have to know!" Talk about a life changing moment. The man with the beard knows that there is only one thing worth living for. I know his tactic is not usually mine, but the reality is that he is doing something. He woke up with one purpose. He is in love with the Creator.
Often, we make excuses for not being explicit. We say that it doesn't work. But, maybe we could learn something from that older man on the streets yesterday. He was explicit in his message. Sometimes, I write a song and my message is implicit instead of explicit. I hide the truth for those who are hungry, or do I hide it out of a fear of being explicit? Christ was both brilliantly explicit by how bright he shone on earth and yet implicit through use of parables and rarely giving a straight answer.
I think, maybe for awhile, the people around us could benefit from our message being labeled EXPLICIT . Redemption's story alone is the most creative narrative ever written and lived out. Even if we don't know how to present it perfectly, it is strong enough to stand on its own. Trust that the Holy Spirit truly can and will guide your words as you step out in faith and love. Don't beat people with the truth, approach them humbly, knowing that you and I were right were they were at one time.
So, without further ado, who's with me? Who's ready to carry around the explicit Truth?
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Mysterious Living
Billions upon billions. Breath after breath. Experience after experience. It's enough to make my mind over heat and begin to melt if I think about it long enough!! The thought, the realization, that there are billions of lives being lived in this very moment...each by a person whose story and life is as legitimate as mine. They breathe, they think, they live, they laugh(hopefully), they cry, they struggle for existence.
Each person then encompasses at least thousands of experiences, memories, and stories. That's probably a really low estimate. I'm thinking more like millions, billions.
THEN there are soooo many galaxies, planets, stars, crazy mysteries, and hidden secrets that we have yet to discover. And in the midst of that bigness there we are. Tiny little people. Crazy and beautiful. I know none of these are truly new thoughts. I've been guilty of mulling it over time and time before, but somehow...it always comes back to me.
I think what has rocked my world the most this week was thinking about being 25 and where I was three years ago and how I never ever ever could have guessed where I would be three years later. I felt quite old for a moment and felt like I have aged about 15 years in only 3...and then I started thinking about my future and wondering what it looks like. I have no idea about mine. Do you know about yours? Like, even though there is no way for us to know unless God reveals it to us supernaturally, we still fret and plan and try to make it turn out the way we would like.
Plans aren't necessarily a bad thing, although when taken outside of faith and in a control mentality they certainly can be. I just see a big question mark when I look at my future. I think I know what's coming next, I think that I'm moving in a couple of months, I think that my boyfriend is coming soon to visit, but what do I know?
You know how in life you go through those times where you kinda get scared because things are starting to go the way you didn't dare to hope or dream? I'm in that moment now, and I start just waiting for the bubble to pop. (not what the doctor ordered, so I don't suggest you try it!) But, I don't want to live that way, I want to live believing that good things truly could be in store in my life...that I could live a full life on this earth, with adventure, love, and stories...but we don't really know! Everyone's story is written so differently. Oh the mystery! Only time will tell :)
So without further ado, I guess what's left is to dream away, plan if you feel led, but don't worry, and enjoy the story as it unfolds.
Each person then encompasses at least thousands of experiences, memories, and stories. That's probably a really low estimate. I'm thinking more like millions, billions.
THEN there are soooo many galaxies, planets, stars, crazy mysteries, and hidden secrets that we have yet to discover. And in the midst of that bigness there we are. Tiny little people. Crazy and beautiful. I know none of these are truly new thoughts. I've been guilty of mulling it over time and time before, but somehow...it always comes back to me.
I think what has rocked my world the most this week was thinking about being 25 and where I was three years ago and how I never ever ever could have guessed where I would be three years later. I felt quite old for a moment and felt like I have aged about 15 years in only 3...and then I started thinking about my future and wondering what it looks like. I have no idea about mine. Do you know about yours? Like, even though there is no way for us to know unless God reveals it to us supernaturally, we still fret and plan and try to make it turn out the way we would like.
Plans aren't necessarily a bad thing, although when taken outside of faith and in a control mentality they certainly can be. I just see a big question mark when I look at my future. I think I know what's coming next, I think that I'm moving in a couple of months, I think that my boyfriend is coming soon to visit, but what do I know?
You know how in life you go through those times where you kinda get scared because things are starting to go the way you didn't dare to hope or dream? I'm in that moment now, and I start just waiting for the bubble to pop. (not what the doctor ordered, so I don't suggest you try it!) But, I don't want to live that way, I want to live believing that good things truly could be in store in my life...that I could live a full life on this earth, with adventure, love, and stories...but we don't really know! Everyone's story is written so differently. Oh the mystery! Only time will tell :)
So without further ado, I guess what's left is to dream away, plan if you feel led, but don't worry, and enjoy the story as it unfolds.
Monday, February 13, 2012
I like the way the horses move
Hello my dear friends, I've been out with the flu...slowly coming back to being able to feel alive again. The timing has been quite ironic. The day before I got the flu...I sat down knowing I wanted to write about the pace at which we life, but I was had no words coming to me. Deciding to come back the next day, I turned off the screen and walked away.
Well...little did I know that the next few days I would have plenty of time to live at a slowly pace (even if it was as a captive stomache flu victim) and, well...it allowed the idea to come into full fruition. Before I had gotten hit with the flu, I had been been going on long beautiful walks and everywhere I looked...I kept noticing that nature seems to move at a much slower pace than we tend to.
I couldn't help being unable to reconcile the pace at which we move with the contrasted pace of most of Creation that the same God made. So, I talked to him about it....and I thought about how fast most westerners push themselves to move faster, more efficiently...all in order to keep up with the job so that they can keep up with the bills from necessities to needless items that we've become convinced we need all in the name of success and satisfaction.
Then I was remembered a story that has stayed with me about how most people, no matter how rich they are, even if they are millionaires, will never say they are rich. The reality...as you've probably heard is that if you own a car...you are EXTREMELY rich....and even more than that, if you have more than enough food for today and shelter...you are rich. I know you don't believe me...but trust me. So, why can't people who have millions see that they are rich? Because we, as humans decide how rich we are based on how rich others are. This means that if we are surrounded by people who have more money than us...If we have one car but the neighbor has two cars AND a motorcycle....well then, Silly Goose, we're not rich...Mr. Jones...now HE is rich...little ole me...nope, I'm not rich.
This all goes with the idea of pace...I was looking at some beautiful horses grazing in a field...and thinking about their pace. I was watching some birds and watching their pace. I was watching a dog play, and thinking about their pace. I was watching some children swing and thinking about their pace. I felt the wind on my face, heard the soft rustle of the leaves, watched the water flow down the creek, and thought about their pace. Then, I wondered...if the pace that nature moves wouldn't reflect the pace our Creator moves at?
Although, of course, all animals can move quickly from time to time, for the most part (even ants and bees rest) they've got the art of rest down from time to time. Humans on the other hand...or at least a few of us...have lost the pace we were made to live at and exchanged it for a rat race pace that steals our opportunities to enjoy the very life we've been given. What do you think? I don't suggest we all lazily lounge for the rest of the life...but I think, perhaps...we could work at a much more complete, well founded, slower pace, and learn how to rest in a much better way than we have been. If we choose to look around at the original creation...I think we might find a clue as to how we were originally intended to live, move, and breathe. Perhaps, if we take a lesson from the horses, and get over our tic-toc fear that time is money, we could truly slow down so we can HEAR the Creator and each other.
So, without further ado, what do you think we can learn about the pace we should live at by looking around ?
Well...little did I know that the next few days I would have plenty of time to live at a slowly pace (even if it was as a captive stomache flu victim) and, well...it allowed the idea to come into full fruition. Before I had gotten hit with the flu, I had been been going on long beautiful walks and everywhere I looked...I kept noticing that nature seems to move at a much slower pace than we tend to.
I couldn't help being unable to reconcile the pace at which we move with the contrasted pace of most of Creation that the same God made. So, I talked to him about it....and I thought about how fast most westerners push themselves to move faster, more efficiently...all in order to keep up with the job so that they can keep up with the bills from necessities to needless items that we've become convinced we need all in the name of success and satisfaction.
Then I was remembered a story that has stayed with me about how most people, no matter how rich they are, even if they are millionaires, will never say they are rich. The reality...as you've probably heard is that if you own a car...you are EXTREMELY rich....and even more than that, if you have more than enough food for today and shelter...you are rich. I know you don't believe me...but trust me. So, why can't people who have millions see that they are rich? Because we, as humans decide how rich we are based on how rich others are. This means that if we are surrounded by people who have more money than us...If we have one car but the neighbor has two cars AND a motorcycle....well then, Silly Goose, we're not rich...Mr. Jones...now HE is rich...little ole me...nope, I'm not rich.
This all goes with the idea of pace...I was looking at some beautiful horses grazing in a field...and thinking about their pace. I was watching some birds and watching their pace. I was watching a dog play, and thinking about their pace. I was watching some children swing and thinking about their pace. I felt the wind on my face, heard the soft rustle of the leaves, watched the water flow down the creek, and thought about their pace. Then, I wondered...if the pace that nature moves wouldn't reflect the pace our Creator moves at?
Although, of course, all animals can move quickly from time to time, for the most part (even ants and bees rest) they've got the art of rest down from time to time. Humans on the other hand...or at least a few of us...have lost the pace we were made to live at and exchanged it for a rat race pace that steals our opportunities to enjoy the very life we've been given. What do you think? I don't suggest we all lazily lounge for the rest of the life...but I think, perhaps...we could work at a much more complete, well founded, slower pace, and learn how to rest in a much better way than we have been. If we choose to look around at the original creation...I think we might find a clue as to how we were originally intended to live, move, and breathe. Perhaps, if we take a lesson from the horses, and get over our tic-toc fear that time is money, we could truly slow down so we can HEAR the Creator and each other.
So, without further ado, what do you think we can learn about the pace we should live at by looking around ?
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Believe
Is it that easy? Just to believe? To have faith? Can we say "just do it"? This week during the Superbowl I had the awesome privilege of turn off the game for awhile with my friends and we got to send up prayer on behalf of our broken families, men, and the women and children who had been trafficked into the area around the superbowl for sex.
I found myself once again feeling like it was such a little thing. Man, God is really trying to teach me what a lie that is!!! I was really appreciative of one of the guys there who called me out and talked about how we can never underestimate the prayers that we send up and how God is waiting for us to utilize the power we have and a lot of times it does truly start with prayer. Sometimes, because we don't see the direct results of our prayers, we forget this. God could instantly fix everything, but instead, he has decided to wait on us to act and move. (Thank goodness He's a God of grace or He would be regretting this decision forever)
I was reminded of James 1:6-7.
Such a good word, yet a part of me goes "ouch" because I know that sometimes...I ask in a double-minded doubtful way...which makes me tossed by the wind, flighty, etc. I ask and pray for something, yet at the same time my mind has a plan B of how I can accomplish this thing if God chooses not to help out. That's absurd and ridiculous. We have to go into prayer with no plan B. God's our plan A and he's it. If in his plan he stirs our heart to take certain actions, AMAZING (that's usually how he works). But, when we go into His presence already with a plan B...that's so incredibly dishonoring to him, and we should plan on receiving nothing.
God is so good, so just. We can't blame Him for the way things are. We have to get on our knees and stand our ground.
So, without further ado, if we're going to be double-minded, lets save ourselves some time and stop praying to convince ourselves it's otherwise.
I found myself once again feeling like it was such a little thing. Man, God is really trying to teach me what a lie that is!!! I was really appreciative of one of the guys there who called me out and talked about how we can never underestimate the prayers that we send up and how God is waiting for us to utilize the power we have and a lot of times it does truly start with prayer. Sometimes, because we don't see the direct results of our prayers, we forget this. God could instantly fix everything, but instead, he has decided to wait on us to act and move. (Thank goodness He's a God of grace or He would be regretting this decision forever)
I was reminded of James 1:6-7.
"If anyone of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."
Such a good word, yet a part of me goes "ouch" because I know that sometimes...I ask in a double-minded doubtful way...which makes me tossed by the wind, flighty, etc. I ask and pray for something, yet at the same time my mind has a plan B of how I can accomplish this thing if God chooses not to help out. That's absurd and ridiculous. We have to go into prayer with no plan B. God's our plan A and he's it. If in his plan he stirs our heart to take certain actions, AMAZING (that's usually how he works). But, when we go into His presence already with a plan B...that's so incredibly dishonoring to him, and we should plan on receiving nothing.
God is so good, so just. We can't blame Him for the way things are. We have to get on our knees and stand our ground.
So, without further ado, if we're going to be double-minded, lets save ourselves some time and stop praying to convince ourselves it's otherwise.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Unbelievable
Something I wrote about a month ago...felt like it was time to share it :)
The revealing of Your beauty
the thought of Your majesty
the hope of Your love
the sight of Your glory
These all awaken within me
a feeling I cannot shake
a craving that is never fully satisfied
here, today, now
I was created with a craving inside
that makes me ache and yearn for more
I ache to jump fully into Your glory
to walk in your contagious love
so that it becomes the epidemic known to all
The incredible intricacies found
in the the mis-labeled, wrongly understood "norma"
trick us into forgetting Your glory and love
From the sparkling masterpieces
found in each sea of a freshly fallen first snow
to the expected "normal" yet absolutely supernatural
miracle of You healing my bruises, wounds, and broken hearts
Your glory though revealed
becomes completely concealed
in our expectations for Your kindness
and lack of recognition when freely given
These being labeled "normal"
make them often forgotten
not so memorable
when they are unbelievably remarkable moments
Your very nature
a taste of your glory revealed
story after story of heaven tenderly touching earth
beckoning humanity to come near
You awaken my heart to sing the melody
that you are inspiring over all Your creation
My heart, it sings the song of her Creator
loving Father, all magnificent, omnipotent,
indescribable, Unbelievable, Oh-so-close yet pushed so far
never miss a beat, the See-it-all
the Everything to Everything we will ever need
majestic One
Your rocks, they scream "He is near"
your trees, they rustle with Your presence
Stop
Breathe
Listen
Give up your false sense of right to reason
it didn't turn out so well in Eden
give up Your license to make sense of it al
l
Exchange your self-help mentality
and embark on a journey of praise
directed at the One who is, who was
who is everything no one and nothing else can ever be
Words-mine fail
yet, with entitlement aside, I continue on
knowing that the mountains dance
the trees speak, and the rocks cry out
of Your love for me
It's messy, the story of humanity
but You don't try to rewrite history,
You tell both the good and the bad
You tell the narrative, You reveal it all
You are both the Narrator and the Narrative
the source of life in every breath
You breathe life into me
Unbelievable to both the Unbelieving and the believing
to the unbelieving Your story is foolishness
human concocted mockery of reason
yet to the believing
unbelievably crazy You are
to love and redeem and offer us the hope
You so freely do
I find You, my Savior, my God
my incredible Everything for Everything I'll ever need
quite unbelievable
You've opened my eyes to this unbelievable story
that is too good to be true, yet unbelievably is
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Pittsburgh's going to the Superbowl...
Ok, so maybe the steelers aren't in the super bowl...but, off the top of my head...that's the one of the first things I think of when I think of the superbowl (I grew up in Pittsburgh, comes with the territory). The super bowl means different things to different people. For some, it's the football game of the year(taken very seriously), to others, it means an all you can eat buffet of chicken wings, pizza, hoagies, and eating til you can't eat no more. For others, it's time to watch the commercials pumped up on steroids, for others it's a sweet time to chill out and they could care less about whether a turnover or a touchdown just happened. (I'll let you surmise which group I fall into)
To thousands of women and girls and pimps...it's prime time to be sold/used/prostituted. I had no idea. Human trafficking comes in lots of different forms, from manual labor, working in cocoa fields, to the sex trade....it's there. What most people don't know...and what I just found out is that for a lot of girls...this is a time when they are shipped in vans/limos/etc to the towns, cities, and area around wherever the superbowl is to be held. Lots of men flocking to one place for a sports event...makes for a pretty good market. The pimps, sadly, are smart at sales and capitalize on this opportunity.
This year it's in Indianapolis...Toledo is near by and so is Detroit...Detroit already has it's own rep going for human trafficking that's not looking so hot. This week I've been thinking alot about what it looks like to truly end human trafficking. To free these girls and women. I know the solution doesn't lie right on the surface. The problem itself is hidden. People don't see it, they think the girls choose this life, they judge and push it out of their mind.
The roots of it run so deeply in our world. The use of women for sex and whatever else is enabled and reinforced left and right through the media that women are there for sex, to satisfy any desire a man may have, even if it means hurting her in the process. Some women reinforce this message by the way they carry themselves and unknowingly disrespect themselves in the way they dress. Women are seen as trophies to be won, or used and then thrown away. Women themselves have bought into this lie.
This underlying current of disrespect and dishonor make it easy for men to dehumanize a woman and use her however he wants, even if she's 13. Maybe the man doesn't know that this girl doesn't feel like she has a choice, or maybe he doesn't realize the reality that she lives in a place of fear...having no place to go, no one to protect her. That doesn't make it ok.
The break down of the family unit, accountability, values and everything else just add fuel to this fire. The fire needs to be put out. I applaud everyone who is doing something to stop it. Whether it's educating the people around you, or distributing 40,000 bars of soap with the human trafficking hotline number written on it to hotels all around the area of Indianapolis...thank you.
I can get overwhelmed by big issues...because it's hard for me to start small. When I first heard about human trafficking, I was pissed off and ready to CHANGE this mess. When I heard about people taking ownership over their cities and towns as nuns and others approached hotels and educated them to the issue and others distributed the soap...my first reaction can be...that's cool, but...it's so small. That's the thing though, it goes back to the whole idea of investment. It's NOT small. ITS HUGE because if we ALL do small things...it turns into one GREAT ENORMOUS UNSTOPPABLE thing. So, what can you do that seems "small"?
Men, I beg you to stand up for your sisters. Be men of courage and of honor. Whatever that looks like, if you don't know...then please learn. Encourage one another to live pure lives and hold the men you come in contact with accountable. As you treat women with respect, others will notice and it will catch on. (you might get harassed for awhile..but you can do it.)
What does it look like for all of us, men and women to stand up against the bully and say we're not going to allow this to happen in our neighborhood, our town, our state, our country, our world any longer? A bully usually wins by pushing around the weakest people on the out skirts of the popular group. They isolate and intimidate. Have you ever seen a movie when a school bully gets taken down by a mob of kids who decide to ban together? It's time we cared enough to protect those who cant protect themselves from the bully. Let's join forces and take it down.
So, without further ado, I know that was heavy stuff. Please go in peace, enjoy whatever the superbowl is to you, but figure out what you can do beyond that. Seize to opportunities to educate and love and pray.
To thousands of women and girls and pimps...it's prime time to be sold/used/prostituted. I had no idea. Human trafficking comes in lots of different forms, from manual labor, working in cocoa fields, to the sex trade....it's there. What most people don't know...and what I just found out is that for a lot of girls...this is a time when they are shipped in vans/limos/etc to the towns, cities, and area around wherever the superbowl is to be held. Lots of men flocking to one place for a sports event...makes for a pretty good market. The pimps, sadly, are smart at sales and capitalize on this opportunity.
This year it's in Indianapolis...Toledo is near by and so is Detroit...Detroit already has it's own rep going for human trafficking that's not looking so hot. This week I've been thinking alot about what it looks like to truly end human trafficking. To free these girls and women. I know the solution doesn't lie right on the surface. The problem itself is hidden. People don't see it, they think the girls choose this life, they judge and push it out of their mind.
The roots of it run so deeply in our world. The use of women for sex and whatever else is enabled and reinforced left and right through the media that women are there for sex, to satisfy any desire a man may have, even if it means hurting her in the process. Some women reinforce this message by the way they carry themselves and unknowingly disrespect themselves in the way they dress. Women are seen as trophies to be won, or used and then thrown away. Women themselves have bought into this lie.
This underlying current of disrespect and dishonor make it easy for men to dehumanize a woman and use her however he wants, even if she's 13. Maybe the man doesn't know that this girl doesn't feel like she has a choice, or maybe he doesn't realize the reality that she lives in a place of fear...having no place to go, no one to protect her. That doesn't make it ok.
The break down of the family unit, accountability, values and everything else just add fuel to this fire. The fire needs to be put out. I applaud everyone who is doing something to stop it. Whether it's educating the people around you, or distributing 40,000 bars of soap with the human trafficking hotline number written on it to hotels all around the area of Indianapolis...thank you.
I can get overwhelmed by big issues...because it's hard for me to start small. When I first heard about human trafficking, I was pissed off and ready to CHANGE this mess. When I heard about people taking ownership over their cities and towns as nuns and others approached hotels and educated them to the issue and others distributed the soap...my first reaction can be...that's cool, but...it's so small. That's the thing though, it goes back to the whole idea of investment. It's NOT small. ITS HUGE because if we ALL do small things...it turns into one GREAT ENORMOUS UNSTOPPABLE thing. So, what can you do that seems "small"?
Men, I beg you to stand up for your sisters. Be men of courage and of honor. Whatever that looks like, if you don't know...then please learn. Encourage one another to live pure lives and hold the men you come in contact with accountable. As you treat women with respect, others will notice and it will catch on. (you might get harassed for awhile..but you can do it.)
What does it look like for all of us, men and women to stand up against the bully and say we're not going to allow this to happen in our neighborhood, our town, our state, our country, our world any longer? A bully usually wins by pushing around the weakest people on the out skirts of the popular group. They isolate and intimidate. Have you ever seen a movie when a school bully gets taken down by a mob of kids who decide to ban together? It's time we cared enough to protect those who cant protect themselves from the bully. Let's join forces and take it down.
So, without further ado, I know that was heavy stuff. Please go in peace, enjoy whatever the superbowl is to you, but figure out what you can do beyond that. Seize to opportunities to educate and love and pray.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Creative much?
Yep. You're creative. I'm creative. We as a whole are creative beings. No, no, I don't have it wrong. I don't care if you can't even draw stick people. It doesn't matter to me if you don't know the difference between a C# and D note. I don't care if you don't know what a serif font is versus a sans-serif(but for the record this is a serif font) You are creative. The core of you was created with light by a Creative being. You were made in His image. Therefore, You're creative.
Sure, you might hide it well. But, maybe that's because you've been taught some things that you need to unlearn. For example, how many of you won't draw or color or paint anymore because you're scared it won't turn out pretty? That you might not be good at it? It's time to revert back to our 4 year old mentality when we knew we were the next Picasso and proudly showed our artwork to anyone and everyone who would look. Why? Because we loved the process. We knew we had fun making it.
Maybe, we've been working with the wrong definition and idea of creativity. Maybe creativity has become associated with something intimidating to you. Maybe people who aren't hipsters, coffee fiend , and professional artists...are creative. Maybe...an engineer is incredibly creative. Maybe we've confused artistic ability with innate creativity. Maybe...a teacher who can manage a classroom and keep 20 children active and learning...is creative in ways Picasso never was.
Here's the crazy part, God created everything we needed...in the beginning. In that creation he created space for his creative creation to continue creating. Everything that has ever been made or done since then...has been only possibly because of the creative supplies he has given us. Talk about CREATIVE.
I challenge you today, to embrace the truth. Embrace the fact that you are creative. Find out what that means for you. It doesn't matter if you don't feel like you are. I've learned sometimes we can become so convinced of a weak lie it becomes a truth we're sure of. And I promise, you have the ability to be creative. You have the ability to bring order to chaos. God wouldn't place his creation in the hands of beings who were anything but creative.
Work through it. Start taking steps to be creative. I discovered that I had hindered my own creativity by being sure that I couldn't do it. I knew I wasn't going to be able to come up with a good idea, I put pressure on myself for it to be perfect. And sure enough, I stole from myself any creativity...as a man thinks so he is. As I didn't value myself...I was unable to value anything that I came up with, sure it wasn't good enough.
Be who you were made to be. Creative. Whatever that looks like. Redefine creativity.
If you need some help with this...and would like to get out of your box, grab some paper and start doodling, without an end result in mind. STOP TRYING. Enjoy the process. Color and don't worry about staying in the lines, scribble for the heck of it. And...if you feel a deeper block, as you read my words, and hear voices or thoughts telling you...sure this is for everyone else but not me. I'm not creative. Then...there might be something deeper going on. Like, maybe you don't value yourself the way that God does. I learned that was my biggest block. Ask God what's going on...(and then give him time and space to show you). Because, of course...if we don't value the creator why would we value the creation?
So, without further ado...don't be scared to make a mess, go outside the lines, jump out of the box, and come up with a few crazy ideas as you embrace the reality of who we are. (Maybe read Genesis with new eyes)
For those of you out there experiencing a creative block, you should probably check out this unconventional book I discovered last week that kinda made my week THAT much better (I promise...you haven't seen a book like this before). Just looking at it...made me realize how much I get stuck in trying to create the RIGHT thing instead of just creating!!! Why do we take ourselves so seriously? This book invites you to crumple pages, draw pictures with just tape, scribble, draw blindfolded, etc. $8-$14
Sure, you might hide it well. But, maybe that's because you've been taught some things that you need to unlearn. For example, how many of you won't draw or color or paint anymore because you're scared it won't turn out pretty? That you might not be good at it? It's time to revert back to our 4 year old mentality when we knew we were the next Picasso and proudly showed our artwork to anyone and everyone who would look. Why? Because we loved the process. We knew we had fun making it.
Maybe, we've been working with the wrong definition and idea of creativity. Maybe creativity has become associated with something intimidating to you. Maybe people who aren't hipsters, coffee fiend , and professional artists...are creative. Maybe...an engineer is incredibly creative. Maybe we've confused artistic ability with innate creativity. Maybe...a teacher who can manage a classroom and keep 20 children active and learning...is creative in ways Picasso never was.
Here's the crazy part, God created everything we needed...in the beginning. In that creation he created space for his creative creation to continue creating. Everything that has ever been made or done since then...has been only possibly because of the creative supplies he has given us. Talk about CREATIVE.
I challenge you today, to embrace the truth. Embrace the fact that you are creative. Find out what that means for you. It doesn't matter if you don't feel like you are. I've learned sometimes we can become so convinced of a weak lie it becomes a truth we're sure of. And I promise, you have the ability to be creative. You have the ability to bring order to chaos. God wouldn't place his creation in the hands of beings who were anything but creative.
Work through it. Start taking steps to be creative. I discovered that I had hindered my own creativity by being sure that I couldn't do it. I knew I wasn't going to be able to come up with a good idea, I put pressure on myself for it to be perfect. And sure enough, I stole from myself any creativity...as a man thinks so he is. As I didn't value myself...I was unable to value anything that I came up with, sure it wasn't good enough.
Be who you were made to be. Creative. Whatever that looks like. Redefine creativity.
If you need some help with this...and would like to get out of your box, grab some paper and start doodling, without an end result in mind. STOP TRYING. Enjoy the process. Color and don't worry about staying in the lines, scribble for the heck of it. And...if you feel a deeper block, as you read my words, and hear voices or thoughts telling you...sure this is for everyone else but not me. I'm not creative. Then...there might be something deeper going on. Like, maybe you don't value yourself the way that God does. I learned that was my biggest block. Ask God what's going on...(and then give him time and space to show you). Because, of course...if we don't value the creator why would we value the creation?
So, without further ado...don't be scared to make a mess, go outside the lines, jump out of the box, and come up with a few crazy ideas as you embrace the reality of who we are. (Maybe read Genesis with new eyes)
BOOK SUGGESTION
"Mess" Keri Smith
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Wise Words
Proverbs are amazing.
Those one liners that stop your world and make you think (if we're willing to let them). So, I thought I'd share a few of those one-liners. Pretty sure most of them come from the book "Radical" by David Platt. Have you ever read a book and thought you were reading your own thoughts that you hadn't been able to put into words? Well...I had that strange feeling while reading "Radical".
Check out the below lines/thoughts, and if something jumps at your heart, feel free to write it big and strong and hold it up on a street corner :) (or you can copy me and plaster them all over your walls)
Those one liners that stop your world and make you think (if we're willing to let them). So, I thought I'd share a few of those one-liners. Pretty sure most of them come from the book "Radical" by David Platt. Have you ever read a book and thought you were reading your own thoughts that you hadn't been able to put into words? Well...I had that strange feeling while reading "Radical".
Check out the below lines/thoughts, and if something jumps at your heart, feel free to write it big and strong and hold it up on a street corner :) (or you can copy me and plaster them all over your walls)
"How many great things am I missing for the "good" things I'm supporting?"
"Prayer must be fundamental, not supplemental"
"Don't get hung up on a good thing that prevents better things from happening"
"The Gospel that saves us from work saves us to work"
"I am loved as much today by God as I will ever be"
"If you're burning out, you need to stop striving to win approval"
"Building the right church depends on using all the wrong people"
"We tend to overlook God's plan for people when we organize church around professionals"
"Don't sit in classrooms; share your lives. Don't build extravagant places; build extraordinary people."
"If I forsake the priority of people then I will miss the purpose of God."
"I'm convinced that Christian maturity has less to do with moral impeccability and more to do with an ever growing trust in the person of Jesus Christ." -Mark CarterSo, without further ado...go soak in some proverbs, some wise words from wise men, or write a few of your own.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
What's that smell?
Maybe you haven't noticed...but sometimes...we smell.
I know, I know, it's a surprise to some of us over in western world...we do a pretty good job disguising our stink. Some people try not to sweat...we use deodorant, we have air fresheners, some people even do such a fantastic job disguising their smell that you gag on their new proudly paraded smell (ever walked past a woman doused in a poignant perfume?)
Why do we do this? Why are we so scared of stinking? If we all stunk...we wouldn't really be so worried about it. Maybe we'd even parade our true smell proudly...check out the way a skunk struts its stuff.
Sunday I was walking through the mall and on my way to my car I noticed a cute country store window and slowed my walk to a leisure pace and saw they were selling a garbage can holder. But, this wasn't any garbage can holder. It was disguised to look like an awesome cabinet. It was beautiful. In fact, no one would know your garbage was in there...until you forgot your garbage was in there and they started asking "What's that smell?"
For some reason, my stomach got sick in that moment and I started wondering why it's so important for us to hide our messes. Why do we want to hide our garbage, why do we hide our smell, why do women hide behind make up? It hit me, that we have a tendency to...are you ready for this? Hide. We hide our mistakes, we hide our true selves...we have to work at being vulnerable. We hide.
But why? Suddenly...the history of man flashed through my mind back to Adam and Eve...who also hid. They hid in the garden because they were ashamed. They were aware that they were naked. They didn't like being exposed. It scared them. And yet...here we are, however long later...after God has given us clothes...still hiding like we're naked. Scared of being truly known, scared of others seeing our messes, and hiding anything that just might smell bad.
The scary part is...sometimes we convince ourselves we aren't hiding. That we're good to go. We've hidden our own stuff that needs dealt with so well that we've tricked ourselves. Don't forget, it's still there if you haven't given it away. Don't be like the fake religious leaders who sickened Jesus.
Too many of us are still trying to hide our garbage, (that Jesus has already offered to clean out) kicking that piece we missed earlier under the carpet, holding what we don't want someone else to see behind our back. It's time to stop. It's time to clean out what needs to be cleaned, and then to accept who we are and not be afraid of how we might smell. Dare to not hide. Dare to believe that when we are told we are free, that God loves you...that it is true.
So, without further ado...don't run from the person who smells....run to them and mess them up with some love. (even if you need to start with you)
I know, I know, it's a surprise to some of us over in western world...we do a pretty good job disguising our stink. Some people try not to sweat...we use deodorant, we have air fresheners, some people even do such a fantastic job disguising their smell that you gag on their new proudly paraded smell (ever walked past a woman doused in a poignant perfume?)
Why do we do this? Why are we so scared of stinking? If we all stunk...we wouldn't really be so worried about it. Maybe we'd even parade our true smell proudly...check out the way a skunk struts its stuff.
Sunday I was walking through the mall and on my way to my car I noticed a cute country store window and slowed my walk to a leisure pace and saw they were selling a garbage can holder. But, this wasn't any garbage can holder. It was disguised to look like an awesome cabinet. It was beautiful. In fact, no one would know your garbage was in there...until you forgot your garbage was in there and they started asking "What's that smell?"
For some reason, my stomach got sick in that moment and I started wondering why it's so important for us to hide our messes. Why do we want to hide our garbage, why do we hide our smell, why do women hide behind make up? It hit me, that we have a tendency to...are you ready for this? Hide. We hide our mistakes, we hide our true selves...we have to work at being vulnerable. We hide.
But why? Suddenly...the history of man flashed through my mind back to Adam and Eve...who also hid. They hid in the garden because they were ashamed. They were aware that they were naked. They didn't like being exposed. It scared them. And yet...here we are, however long later...after God has given us clothes...still hiding like we're naked. Scared of being truly known, scared of others seeing our messes, and hiding anything that just might smell bad.
The scary part is...sometimes we convince ourselves we aren't hiding. That we're good to go. We've hidden our own stuff that needs dealt with so well that we've tricked ourselves. Don't forget, it's still there if you haven't given it away. Don't be like the fake religious leaders who sickened Jesus.
"...you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean." Matt.24:27
Too many of us are still trying to hide our garbage, (that Jesus has already offered to clean out) kicking that piece we missed earlier under the carpet, holding what we don't want someone else to see behind our back. It's time to stop. It's time to clean out what needs to be cleaned, and then to accept who we are and not be afraid of how we might smell. Dare to not hide. Dare to believe that when we are told we are free, that God loves you...that it is true.
So, without further ado...don't run from the person who smells....run to them and mess them up with some love. (even if you need to start with you)
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