I read something the other day pointing out the fact that we really don't remember much of our lives. Think about it, I bet you couldn't give me a detailed account of your life three days ago. I surely couldn't. This phenomenon makes me believe that the moments that we do remember have got to have some sort of significance.
Childhood was a magical period, filled with limitless dreams that floated around in my head day after day. I wish I could remember more of that time, I wish I would have written down something of my daily life. I was interested in writing back then, but not enough to realize I would one day want my childhood thoughts back.
God has recently revealed a little of the career path He has in store for me, but how I'm going to get there is still a complete mystery for me. But honestly, I'm just happy to have some sort of direction. However, thinking about all of this has conjured up a conversation I once had when I was a little girl.
I remember playing on the swing set my Dad had built (with the help of our friendly neighbor), along with my brother and and one of our neighborhood friends. We had most likely just finished a game of seeing who could jump the furthest off the swing set, when I blurted out that when I grew up, I wanted to be a pioneer.
Now, maybe my head was a bit consumed with frequent playing of Oregon Trail, but the thought of being a pioneer intrigued me. I realized that I wouldn't be settling any land, but doing something that no one had ever done before and being able to put my name on it as being "first" was truly fascinating.
I don't know why this memory has been brought forth again, but I don't doubt God has purposely placed it there. That childhood pioneer ambition is still alive (although I don't think I would use the term "pioneer" now). I want to do things no one has done before, and I'm beginning to see my opportunity. Like I said, I don't know how I will get there, but I don't think the early pioneers ever had a clue as to how to get to where they were going anyway. But, this part excites me.
It is a curious thing, to live life blindly, and there are stops along the way that cause you to question just how you got there. But the opportunity to reflect on the steps that brought you to the present are so rewarding. It shows God's character in a light that can really only be understood in looking backwards. If you think about it, it's truly humbling. You realize that the moments that previously made absolutely no sense had been perfectly orchestrated. These are the times that I realize I need to seek forgiveness from God for getting angry with him when it seemed like nothing was working out. But it was, just not in the way I thought it should.
That moment on the swing-set has given me confirmation to where I am right now. Those thoughts I had when I was younger were not just crazy thoughts (at least not all of them), but they marked the beginnings of the road I would travel down and will serve as confirmation as I continue to walk forward.
We acknowledge that God writes our stories, but we never understand them until we read them in reverse.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Current Thoughts on Marriage
For the first time in my life, I feel completely ok with the thought that I may never get married. Most certainly not for a while (well, maybe I shouldn't say "most certainly," because God has a funny way of doing whatever he wants when you least expect it to happen).
Go ahead, gasp.
But now hear me out.
I think the world leads us to believe that marriage is the highest peak of the mountain, and that most of our striving is to reach that peak...to find "the one." Yes, marriage is a beautiful gift, but it is not the end all, be all.
How much energy have I spent thinking about boys, pursuing their admiration, and daydreaming about my future life when I should have been focusing on Christ and what He is calling me to do. Each one of us have been birthed with and by intention for God's kingdom. He has plans for us that will benefit his coming kingdom, and gives us a life most satisfying. And yet, I've ignored this truth time and time again.
Far too often, especially for my age group (as now is the time for the "first train" of marriage to go through), do we look to marriage for security. The fear of being alone drives so many of our lives, that we forget the Father's promise that we are never alone.
I fear that too many people throw in the towel on these dreams God has intentionally placed in each one of us, only to settle for potential security with another being. Now, I'm not hating on marriage because for many, God has given them that gift. I'm just realizing that it is ok to NOT be married, as per the road that God leads each of us down.
So for now, I have been given too much of an adventurous spirit to compromise or push open a door that has not yet presented itself. I have a desire to explore the world for all that it is, and to be able to go whenever I want is a gift I cherish.
Perhaps marriage is in my future, and I'll embrace that with arms wide open when it comes. But I won't make that my sole focus in living, or I'll cease to live at all.
Go ahead, gasp.
But now hear me out.
I think the world leads us to believe that marriage is the highest peak of the mountain, and that most of our striving is to reach that peak...to find "the one." Yes, marriage is a beautiful gift, but it is not the end all, be all.
How much energy have I spent thinking about boys, pursuing their admiration, and daydreaming about my future life when I should have been focusing on Christ and what He is calling me to do. Each one of us have been birthed with and by intention for God's kingdom. He has plans for us that will benefit his coming kingdom, and gives us a life most satisfying. And yet, I've ignored this truth time and time again.
Far too often, especially for my age group (as now is the time for the "first train" of marriage to go through), do we look to marriage for security. The fear of being alone drives so many of our lives, that we forget the Father's promise that we are never alone.
I fear that too many people throw in the towel on these dreams God has intentionally placed in each one of us, only to settle for potential security with another being. Now, I'm not hating on marriage because for many, God has given them that gift. I'm just realizing that it is ok to NOT be married, as per the road that God leads each of us down.
So for now, I have been given too much of an adventurous spirit to compromise or push open a door that has not yet presented itself. I have a desire to explore the world for all that it is, and to be able to go whenever I want is a gift I cherish.
Perhaps marriage is in my future, and I'll embrace that with arms wide open when it comes. But I won't make that my sole focus in living, or I'll cease to live at all.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Lessons Learned from 127 Hours
I'm not one for emotions, or at least I wasn't. As I wrote in my previous entry, I've begun weeping at the strangest moments, and I add the film 127 Hours to that list. Yeah yeah, most girls cry during movies about weddings or tragic love losses, but tears don't usually fall during tales of epic survival. But alas, they did... both times I watched it.
James Franco portrays Aron Ralston, a man that thrived off of independent adventure. He was the type of guy who found great satisfaction out of getting himself into the craziest of situations and getting himself out of these crazy situations without interacting with a single other person. The thrill of self-success drove him, and consequently, nearly cost him his life.
When Aron left home early that morning, he hadn't told anyone where he was going. And why would he? He was able to successfully smooth over any bumps in the road that previously shown themselves. It's so easy to get a high from independent success; the triumph leaves you hungry to test the limits of one's abilities, much like the kid who likes to see how far he can push his parents' rules before getting put in time out. I know; I'm guilty of it far too often, but I'm learning that that high cannot and will not satisfy.
God created each person with unique capabilities, but no one can do everything. This is why community is so crucial. Just as God created us with these unique capabilities, he didn't give us everything so that we would have to rely on other people...to rely on God. Sure, we've all heard this sermon before, but there are far too many of us who are still addicted to self-achievement. We rise and we rise to a point where we think the peak of the dream is. The view from the top shows the building blocks of accomplishment, and for a while the feeling is incredible. But then it gets quiet, and eventually you'll find yourself alone and quite possibly, stuck between a rock and a hard place.*
In the solitary moments Aron spent trapped in the cave, he flashes back on all the moments he denied community's invitation. He revisits each moment that could have prevented him from being trapped there in the first place and he begins to feel incredibly sorry. If only he had returned his mother's phone call. If only he had let his friend at the surplus/map store in on his adventure. If only he had continued hiking with the girls he met right before his near fatal jump.
Aron may have had the survival skills and determination (and undoubtedly God's miraculous hand) to free himself from the rock, but he was still stranded in the canyon. Cutting his arm off was not the end of story, there was still another journey to take, and this one he could not do alone.
Emerging from the cave, it was obvious that Aron was not going to make it very far if he did not get immediate assistance. Dehydrated and delirious, Aron was able to spot a family walking a fairly short distance in front of him. If Aron wanted to survive, he was going to have to call out and ask for help. He could not rely on himself.
And this is the moment I cried. As I watched Aron cry out for help, tears streamed down my face. It was a moment so incredibly humbling; one that finally embraced community and the strengths of others.
I can't get over this beautiful moment and it is something I want and need to remember. I'm not shunning independence, that too is a beautiful gift. But we must find the balance between independence and community. I pray that we would learn to embrace who God created us to be individually, embrace the unique qualities and abilities of those around us, and how we are meant to live in community with one another so that then we can fully rejoice in the beauty of life.
*Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place is a novel written by Aron Ralston.
James Franco portrays Aron Ralston, a man that thrived off of independent adventure. He was the type of guy who found great satisfaction out of getting himself into the craziest of situations and getting himself out of these crazy situations without interacting with a single other person. The thrill of self-success drove him, and consequently, nearly cost him his life.
When Aron left home early that morning, he hadn't told anyone where he was going. And why would he? He was able to successfully smooth over any bumps in the road that previously shown themselves. It's so easy to get a high from independent success; the triumph leaves you hungry to test the limits of one's abilities, much like the kid who likes to see how far he can push his parents' rules before getting put in time out. I know; I'm guilty of it far too often, but I'm learning that that high cannot and will not satisfy.
God created each person with unique capabilities, but no one can do everything. This is why community is so crucial. Just as God created us with these unique capabilities, he didn't give us everything so that we would have to rely on other people...to rely on God. Sure, we've all heard this sermon before, but there are far too many of us who are still addicted to self-achievement. We rise and we rise to a point where we think the peak of the dream is. The view from the top shows the building blocks of accomplishment, and for a while the feeling is incredible. But then it gets quiet, and eventually you'll find yourself alone and quite possibly, stuck between a rock and a hard place.*
In the solitary moments Aron spent trapped in the cave, he flashes back on all the moments he denied community's invitation. He revisits each moment that could have prevented him from being trapped there in the first place and he begins to feel incredibly sorry. If only he had returned his mother's phone call. If only he had let his friend at the surplus/map store in on his adventure. If only he had continued hiking with the girls he met right before his near fatal jump.
Aron may have had the survival skills and determination (and undoubtedly God's miraculous hand) to free himself from the rock, but he was still stranded in the canyon. Cutting his arm off was not the end of story, there was still another journey to take, and this one he could not do alone.
Emerging from the cave, it was obvious that Aron was not going to make it very far if he did not get immediate assistance. Dehydrated and delirious, Aron was able to spot a family walking a fairly short distance in front of him. If Aron wanted to survive, he was going to have to call out and ask for help. He could not rely on himself.
And this is the moment I cried. As I watched Aron cry out for help, tears streamed down my face. It was a moment so incredibly humbling; one that finally embraced community and the strengths of others.
I can't get over this beautiful moment and it is something I want and need to remember. I'm not shunning independence, that too is a beautiful gift. But we must find the balance between independence and community. I pray that we would learn to embrace who God created us to be individually, embrace the unique qualities and abilities of those around us, and how we are meant to live in community with one another so that then we can fully rejoice in the beauty of life.
*Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place is a novel written by Aron Ralston.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Its Been Awhile...
There are some moments in life that leave you wishing you could press pause and stay there until you've memorized everything about that scene. Those are the beautiful moments that make your heart swell with gratitude for the life God has blessed you with and the people that he has surrounded you with.
For me, last night was one of those moments. A small group of us were hanging out at a friends house enjoying some Argentine wine and fresh fruit, accompanied by the Ray Lamontagne Pandora radio station- the scene was just absolutely perfect. The music, the company, the food, the lighting...everything. There was no agenda; no homework to get done, no meetings to attend. Nothing. Just the simple pleasure of enjoying one another's company.
I realized that this will be one of those moments that I'll look back on years from now and just smile at the perfectness of it all. But thinking about being able to look back on this moment got me thinking about the future and what it potentially holds.
My friends are so talented, and I am so excited to see where life is going to have each one of us in 10 years, heck...in 5 years. One will go on to be a writer, one an actor, one a photographer, another a physical therapist, a PR professional, a recording artist. We each have these God given dreams and talents that are on the brink of being unleashed on the world and I am so excited to watch it pan out. For the little successes and big triumphs, for bumps in the road and the unsuspected corners. It all excites me.
Maybe I'm beginning to realize that I am a senior in college and that time keeps pushing me forward through the doorway of the real world. My senses are coming alive to everything now. I found myself tearing up reading through Father's Day cards at Hallmark the other day, and again after reading a resignation letter from a former teacher. I am able to stay and enjoy the company of those who surround me without rushing off to another appointment. I know I'm changing, and I welcome it with a warm embrace.
Life is beautiful, and I thank my Creator for the gifts he is bestowing in my life and in the lives of those around me.
For me, last night was one of those moments. A small group of us were hanging out at a friends house enjoying some Argentine wine and fresh fruit, accompanied by the Ray Lamontagne Pandora radio station- the scene was just absolutely perfect. The music, the company, the food, the lighting...everything. There was no agenda; no homework to get done, no meetings to attend. Nothing. Just the simple pleasure of enjoying one another's company.
I realized that this will be one of those moments that I'll look back on years from now and just smile at the perfectness of it all. But thinking about being able to look back on this moment got me thinking about the future and what it potentially holds.
My friends are so talented, and I am so excited to see where life is going to have each one of us in 10 years, heck...in 5 years. One will go on to be a writer, one an actor, one a photographer, another a physical therapist, a PR professional, a recording artist. We each have these God given dreams and talents that are on the brink of being unleashed on the world and I am so excited to watch it pan out. For the little successes and big triumphs, for bumps in the road and the unsuspected corners. It all excites me.
Maybe I'm beginning to realize that I am a senior in college and that time keeps pushing me forward through the doorway of the real world. My senses are coming alive to everything now. I found myself tearing up reading through Father's Day cards at Hallmark the other day, and again after reading a resignation letter from a former teacher. I am able to stay and enjoy the company of those who surround me without rushing off to another appointment. I know I'm changing, and I welcome it with a warm embrace.
Life is beautiful, and I thank my Creator for the gifts he is bestowing in my life and in the lives of those around me.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Desanitizing the Cross
When we visualize the cross, we far too often see it as simply a piece of jewelry to adorn our necks. We put it on in the morning because it dresses up our outfit, but then we forget what that emblem means, or that we're even wearing it. The cross was never meant to be a dainty ornament. The TV ads selling 24k gold crosses or crosses made of all crystals really make me angry, and I refuse to buy in to that. They make Jesus' sacrifice seem so intangible to anyone outside of the upper tier of wealth and it takes away from the struggle of it all. Yes, what happened on the cross was the most beautiful gift man could ever receive, but the process itself was the dirtiest. We focus on the aftermath, we focus on the happy ending that we wish to partake in. Yet, I'm finding that by merely focusing on that happy ending, we take for granted the road leading up to it and we forget about the fight that we are still in. We forget there is work to be done here, in our time on earth.
I want to visualize the cross more as the bloody mess that it was. In doing so, I believe I will be able to understand God's love for me that much more and it will cause me to live my life a great deal different than visualizing it as a piece of clean silver. I need to remember the struggle Jesus had in carrying the cross, to think of how heavy it must have been on his shoulders so that I may fully appreciate him carrying my sins. I need to remember the mockery he faced and the strength he had to endure it, never backing down or denying his identity. May that be the strength to encourage me in my walk. I pray I remember the pain of being brutally beaten and then nailed to the cross. But Jesus carried on because his love was so great, and he knew that that pain was only temporary and how shortly, he would be building the kingdom for his believers to join him in.
The gift of salvation was not acquired easily, so may I not forget the journey. May I not be content to just wearing a cross around my neck, where I can so easily forget about its existence. Instead, may I keep the image of the bloody cross in front of me. To keep the sacrifice forever fresh in my mind so that my actions would echo what I choose to believe. Realizing the brutality of it all makes Jesus' love that much sweeter to me, and it becomes so much more than a Sunday morning thought. It takes over the meaning of my existence and my mission in this world.
"Keep the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your life." Galatians 3:1 MSG
I want to visualize the cross more as the bloody mess that it was. In doing so, I believe I will be able to understand God's love for me that much more and it will cause me to live my life a great deal different than visualizing it as a piece of clean silver. I need to remember the struggle Jesus had in carrying the cross, to think of how heavy it must have been on his shoulders so that I may fully appreciate him carrying my sins. I need to remember the mockery he faced and the strength he had to endure it, never backing down or denying his identity. May that be the strength to encourage me in my walk. I pray I remember the pain of being brutally beaten and then nailed to the cross. But Jesus carried on because his love was so great, and he knew that that pain was only temporary and how shortly, he would be building the kingdom for his believers to join him in.
The gift of salvation was not acquired easily, so may I not forget the journey. May I not be content to just wearing a cross around my neck, where I can so easily forget about its existence. Instead, may I keep the image of the bloody cross in front of me. To keep the sacrifice forever fresh in my mind so that my actions would echo what I choose to believe. Realizing the brutality of it all makes Jesus' love that much sweeter to me, and it becomes so much more than a Sunday morning thought. It takes over the meaning of my existence and my mission in this world.
"Keep the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your life." Galatians 3:1 MSG
Friday, April 8, 2011
A Moment of Truth
Right now, walking forward feels a lot like taking one baby step forward and 3 giant leaps backwards. I came in to this study abroad experience knowing it would be a challenge, but I don't know that I fully equipped and prepared myself for it. My calling and what my heart's desire to do is to carry God's light to those dark places. To be a vessel pointing others in the direction of Christ. I know my calling, but my execution would not lead one to think others to think so. When it is just me and God, I am completely sure of the plan of action. But in the company of my new friends here, I am realizing how weak my flesh is. I set my armor down in order to satisfy my current desires; my desires to belong to a group of friends, to be liked, to be found attractive. I know these are worldly wants, I know these are temporary and there is no lasting joy in their fulfillment. I am filled with deep regret for giving in so easily to these temptations, and I find myself almost angry at God for letting me partake in sin, and the repeated sin, time and time again.
But God is not a dictator. He will not force me, or you, to do anything. He offers His love, His love that satisfies so completely, yet leaves the offer on the table for us to take or leave. Of course He yearns for us to take it, for God is a relational God and desires to be in community with us, the people He has created. But he refuses to force any of us to take it, for that is not true love. We must equally desire to love Him, we must desire to live for Him.
I made a decision many years ago to accept God's love because I believe in the way and the truth that He is. But I am really struggling right now to maintain walking on this path to righteousness. I keep getting distracted, and I wander off. I keep acknowledging sin and allowing myself to partake in what I know I should not. I am letting my earthly desires rule in front of Christ.
I do not wish to take advantage of God's grace and mercy, but thats what I feel I am doing. My weak flesh is crying for the strength of my Savior. The strength that I find in my intimate moments with Christ is what I need to be present in every other moment.
But what it all comes down to is me actively choosing to take on the strength Christ offers. This is the battle that I am in, the one that God has promised would not be easy. But I must remember that the victory is already His and I have a part of that. I still must fight. I refuse to simply acknowledge who He is with my heart, but deny his greatness in front of the world. I can talk about how I have no Christian community here and say that is the reason I feel so weak, but the reality is, Christ is with me all the time. All the time. It really shouldn't matter who I am surrounded by, and I cannot maintain that excuse. Friends, please pray for me in this battle I am facing. Please pray for strength, unwavering strength, and that I would grip Christ's hand so that nothing can separate us.
I have chosen to live for Christ and accept His love. I curse these earthly desires that lurk around every corner. I am strong because Christ has given me His strength, and this is what I must continue to stand on.
Father, I know my decisions are causing you great pain right now. This is not what I ant. I want to bring you joy, I ant to do the things you want me to because I know that your way is so much better. But how easy I forget this! God, I am so sorry. Please, forgive my flesh for being so weak, teach me to use your strenght, and to use it daily. Teach me to walk away from sin, to say no and to really remember that you are greater. You are greater. You are greater. It is one thing to confess all this in my heart, but the true test comes in living this out. May my actions portray what I confess in my heart. May I not lead others astray, but show them that You are the only way, the only light, and the only life. This is what I believe. I stand here now, begging for Satan's troops to leave me alone. I am a part of the Lord's army, and I will not betray. Oh God, please be so much bigger than I am allowing you to be. Father, I ask for strength to conquer this. The strength to say no and to be ok with that answer. Oh God, be so much bigger. Be so much bigger. Father, forgive me. Show my feet where the right path is. Show me where you are. My spirit is mourning for the moments I have lost. Please, have mercy on me, although I deserve none. Teach me to walk once more.
But God is not a dictator. He will not force me, or you, to do anything. He offers His love, His love that satisfies so completely, yet leaves the offer on the table for us to take or leave. Of course He yearns for us to take it, for God is a relational God and desires to be in community with us, the people He has created. But he refuses to force any of us to take it, for that is not true love. We must equally desire to love Him, we must desire to live for Him.
I made a decision many years ago to accept God's love because I believe in the way and the truth that He is. But I am really struggling right now to maintain walking on this path to righteousness. I keep getting distracted, and I wander off. I keep acknowledging sin and allowing myself to partake in what I know I should not. I am letting my earthly desires rule in front of Christ.
I do not wish to take advantage of God's grace and mercy, but thats what I feel I am doing. My weak flesh is crying for the strength of my Savior. The strength that I find in my intimate moments with Christ is what I need to be present in every other moment.
But what it all comes down to is me actively choosing to take on the strength Christ offers. This is the battle that I am in, the one that God has promised would not be easy. But I must remember that the victory is already His and I have a part of that. I still must fight. I refuse to simply acknowledge who He is with my heart, but deny his greatness in front of the world. I can talk about how I have no Christian community here and say that is the reason I feel so weak, but the reality is, Christ is with me all the time. All the time. It really shouldn't matter who I am surrounded by, and I cannot maintain that excuse. Friends, please pray for me in this battle I am facing. Please pray for strength, unwavering strength, and that I would grip Christ's hand so that nothing can separate us.
I have chosen to live for Christ and accept His love. I curse these earthly desires that lurk around every corner. I am strong because Christ has given me His strength, and this is what I must continue to stand on.
Father, I know my decisions are causing you great pain right now. This is not what I ant. I want to bring you joy, I ant to do the things you want me to because I know that your way is so much better. But how easy I forget this! God, I am so sorry. Please, forgive my flesh for being so weak, teach me to use your strenght, and to use it daily. Teach me to walk away from sin, to say no and to really remember that you are greater. You are greater. You are greater. It is one thing to confess all this in my heart, but the true test comes in living this out. May my actions portray what I confess in my heart. May I not lead others astray, but show them that You are the only way, the only light, and the only life. This is what I believe. I stand here now, begging for Satan's troops to leave me alone. I am a part of the Lord's army, and I will not betray. Oh God, please be so much bigger than I am allowing you to be. Father, I ask for strength to conquer this. The strength to say no and to be ok with that answer. Oh God, be so much bigger. Be so much bigger. Father, forgive me. Show my feet where the right path is. Show me where you are. My spirit is mourning for the moments I have lost. Please, have mercy on me, although I deserve none. Teach me to walk once more.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Seasons
"I have become all things to all men..." 1 Corinthians 9:22
I can't help but feel drawn to this verse. I wake up every morning, tossing it around in my mind simply trying my best to understand it and apply it to my life. What Paul was given to write has really struck a chord deep within my soul, and in these moments where I feel besides myself, there is no greater comfort than Truth.
A tree's roots descend far below the surface, and extend further than those standing on the outside really know. Giving the tree humanistic qualities, only it can know the miles stretched by it's roots- what they come in contact with, the areas that have directed its roots in one direction or another. All of this lives deep beneath the surface of what is shared with the world, and as long as the tree is receiving the necessary nutrients, it will continue to grow and, well... branch out.
Above the surface, we can see a tall, sturdy tree adorned with leaves, and of course the little birds that make the tree it's home. But lets focus on the leaves. The leaves look different from season to season, depending on which end of the season spectrum we're in. But the point I'm trying to get at is that the leaves change based on the circumstances, based on the season.
The leaves change, the roots stay the same.
I think there's a lot to learn from this picture/analogy God has given me, and I'm still sorting through it all. A tree does what it has to do to outwardly fit in to it's surroundings, meanwhile, what goes on beneath continues growing. I guess this is how I can best describe where I'm at right now.
I am firmly rooted in Christ and nothing can sway me of that, of this I am sure. However, as Paul writes, I must become all things to all men. Now, I don't believe this to mean that it's ok to engage in deliberate sinful activities simply because thats what the rest of Rome is doing. Rather, I think it's saying to follow suit with those around you, as long as it is not compromising your roots.
Maybe a personal example will help.
Buenos Aires is very much a party culture, and the very opposite of what I'm used to. However, I would be wasting too many opportunities should I choose to stick to how I'm used to things and stay home. I would be missing opportunities to speak with so many different people and engaging in friendships that otherwise wouldn't exist. I would be ignoring Christ's call on my life. So, I have to adapt to my surroundings. I'm not adapting my roots, I'm only changing my leaves to fit the season.
Regardless of the color of a tree's leaves, you can (almost) always tell what family of trees it belongs to. The genetic make up shines through. Regardless of the seasonal appearance of my leaves, it is my deepest hope and prayer that my identity in Christ is evident.
Who knows where I will be in the coming months, who knows what type of season it will be. As my journeys continue, my roots will continue to form and grow stronger. I allow my leaves to change for the good and the sake of those around me in efforts to become all things to all men for the good of God's kingdom.
I'm not adapting my roots, I'm only changing my leaves to fit the season.
I can't help but feel drawn to this verse. I wake up every morning, tossing it around in my mind simply trying my best to understand it and apply it to my life. What Paul was given to write has really struck a chord deep within my soul, and in these moments where I feel besides myself, there is no greater comfort than Truth.
A tree's roots descend far below the surface, and extend further than those standing on the outside really know. Giving the tree humanistic qualities, only it can know the miles stretched by it's roots- what they come in contact with, the areas that have directed its roots in one direction or another. All of this lives deep beneath the surface of what is shared with the world, and as long as the tree is receiving the necessary nutrients, it will continue to grow and, well... branch out.
Above the surface, we can see a tall, sturdy tree adorned with leaves, and of course the little birds that make the tree it's home. But lets focus on the leaves. The leaves look different from season to season, depending on which end of the season spectrum we're in. But the point I'm trying to get at is that the leaves change based on the circumstances, based on the season.
The leaves change, the roots stay the same.
I think there's a lot to learn from this picture/analogy God has given me, and I'm still sorting through it all. A tree does what it has to do to outwardly fit in to it's surroundings, meanwhile, what goes on beneath continues growing. I guess this is how I can best describe where I'm at right now.
I am firmly rooted in Christ and nothing can sway me of that, of this I am sure. However, as Paul writes, I must become all things to all men. Now, I don't believe this to mean that it's ok to engage in deliberate sinful activities simply because thats what the rest of Rome is doing. Rather, I think it's saying to follow suit with those around you, as long as it is not compromising your roots.
Maybe a personal example will help.
Buenos Aires is very much a party culture, and the very opposite of what I'm used to. However, I would be wasting too many opportunities should I choose to stick to how I'm used to things and stay home. I would be missing opportunities to speak with so many different people and engaging in friendships that otherwise wouldn't exist. I would be ignoring Christ's call on my life. So, I have to adapt to my surroundings. I'm not adapting my roots, I'm only changing my leaves to fit the season.
Regardless of the color of a tree's leaves, you can (almost) always tell what family of trees it belongs to. The genetic make up shines through. Regardless of the seasonal appearance of my leaves, it is my deepest hope and prayer that my identity in Christ is evident.
Who knows where I will be in the coming months, who knows what type of season it will be. As my journeys continue, my roots will continue to form and grow stronger. I allow my leaves to change for the good and the sake of those around me in efforts to become all things to all men for the good of God's kingdom.
I'm not adapting my roots, I'm only changing my leaves to fit the season.
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