Your Life as a Question
I don't buy into the phrase, "If God is really a loving god he wouldn't let ________ happen." I think it's because of where I believe I am. I look out at this world and I see a fallen place that is the battle ground for good and evil. It's where testing occurs, perseverance is taught, opportunities are given (and taken away), where free will reigns and choices are made. This is a place where bad things can happen and unspeakable joy takes place.
It's during your time here that this question is answered: "What are you going to do about it?" When it feels like the world's problems are so big you don't know where to begin, know this: You're not meant to fix it all. Just do your part. When you are blessed, how do you use it? Did you smile at a stranger today? Will you give up a designer cup of coffee so someone else can have a whole meal? Can you set your ego aside to rescue a relationship? Have you extended forgiveness? Did you pick up a piece of trash? Have you called a friend to see how they're doing? Life doesn't have to be GRAND to create a lasting legacy. It's the small, manageable things that have untold impact. It's the unrelenting investment of pennies that return immeasurable wealth.
The design of this place is such that it tests our abilities to cooperate and gives us opportunities to act with kindness. We can be part of MIRACLES. We can love who God puts in front of us as long as we have them, be it for a lifetime or a moment. We can explode with creation and beauty. We can bring smiles and help soften hearts. The tragic alternative: Or not.
I continue to learn in this place: What I'm made of, what I need to work on, how far I've come and where I want to go. I see people I want to emulate and traits I don't want to adopt. I want to know what God put me on this earth for and I pray I'm not missing the POINT of me.
Hurdles in our mission include the words "must have", "entitled" and "deserve". I won't pretend that I'm exempt from their allure myself. We've been fooled into thinking the collection of things is somehow of greater importance than the people around them and bigger is better. We think we are somehow above experiencing discomfort, we get lulled into a false sense of security and are easily distracted by shiny things. I just pray we don't get so derailed by the STUFF that at the end of our lives, there is no one to hold our hand into our last breath.
I will never believe that God lets bad things happen. I think He cheers us on to be more than we ever thought we could be and yells, "Tag me in!" when it all becomes too much. Together, we're unstoppable and with God, we can move mountains.
It's during your time here that this question is answered: "What are you going to do about it?" When it feels like the world's problems are so big you don't know where to begin, know this: You're not meant to fix it all. Just do your part. When you are blessed, how do you use it? Did you smile at a stranger today? Will you give up a designer cup of coffee so someone else can have a whole meal? Can you set your ego aside to rescue a relationship? Have you extended forgiveness? Did you pick up a piece of trash? Have you called a friend to see how they're doing? Life doesn't have to be GRAND to create a lasting legacy. It's the small, manageable things that have untold impact. It's the unrelenting investment of pennies that return immeasurable wealth.
The design of this place is such that it tests our abilities to cooperate and gives us opportunities to act with kindness. We can be part of MIRACLES. We can love who God puts in front of us as long as we have them, be it for a lifetime or a moment. We can explode with creation and beauty. We can bring smiles and help soften hearts. The tragic alternative: Or not.
I continue to learn in this place: What I'm made of, what I need to work on, how far I've come and where I want to go. I see people I want to emulate and traits I don't want to adopt. I want to know what God put me on this earth for and I pray I'm not missing the POINT of me.
Hurdles in our mission include the words "must have", "entitled" and "deserve". I won't pretend that I'm exempt from their allure myself. We've been fooled into thinking the collection of things is somehow of greater importance than the people around them and bigger is better. We think we are somehow above experiencing discomfort, we get lulled into a false sense of security and are easily distracted by shiny things. I just pray we don't get so derailed by the STUFF that at the end of our lives, there is no one to hold our hand into our last breath.
I will never believe that God lets bad things happen. I think He cheers us on to be more than we ever thought we could be and yells, "Tag me in!" when it all becomes too much. Together, we're unstoppable and with God, we can move mountains.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Studio 3:33 - "Bohemian Praise", August 26, 2010
It was around this time my friend, Anne, was into henna tattooing and I LOVED the seemingly free flowing abandon in it. I felt it to be such a reflection of my faith. It seems like such a paradox but when I live in the guidelines of my faith, set by Jesus, I've found more freedom than I've ever experienced: a freedom from regret, second-guessing, disappointment, loneliness etc. It's not 100% of the time but it's definitely better than I ever imagined it could be, especially at my lowest points.
Comments
Post a Comment