Posted by Rebecca
Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:47:00 GMT
Lately I’ve been thinking about my life and how many opportunities I’ve missed because I’m afraid to take certain risks.
I’ve decided that not taking risks is boring, so I’m going to start taking risks. And I’m going to express myself - which is a bit risky in and of itself - because I’m a little out there.
For starters, I made a drastic change to my hair which I absolutely adore. It’s me. And that makes me happy.
Secondly, I’m taking smaller risks in other areas. For example, I’m taking risks in rock climbing. I used to analyze every single itty bitty move to death and often I couldn’t get up a route because I was thinking too hard about it. Well, I’m still a little analytical, but I’ve made the decision to not be afraid of falling, and man, can I climb when I turn off that fear. It’s great - I think I’m going to improve a lot in that area.
Part of being risky means not thinking so much. In the past six months, numerous people who are close to me and not so close to me have all told me that I think too much. So I’m trying to stop thinking here and there - not to the extent of being stupid, but more so to the extent of relaxing and living life.
Just when I felt like I was losing my youth, G-d stepped in, and through the advice of others and a miraculous change in my heart, is helping me live again. The following comes to mind:
Bless the L-RD, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the L-RD, O my soul,
and forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities,
who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with good things,
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
Psalm 103:1-5 NASB
Posted in Along the Way | 1 comment
Posted by Rebecca
Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:34:00 GMT
I recently found myself in a Christian social situation with a Christian friend who had brought along his non-christian buddy. For the sake of clarity, yet to preserve anonymity, I’m calling my Christian friend Bob and his non-christian friend Buddy.
Buddy is a little rough around the edges but I can hang with that. I’m actually used to it, because in a former life all of my friends were that way, and there’s a part of my heart that really enjoys being around earthy, real people. As such, I fell easily into conversation with Buddy and didn’t feel uncomfortable in the least.
In speaking with Buddy I learned that Bob had asked Buddy to act civilized around Bob’s “church friends.” Specifically, he told Buddy to refrain from dropping “F-bombs.”
Now, before I make my argument against what Bob had asked, let me first say that, while I cannot pinpoint the root of his concern, I can certainly understand having it. In my own way I have done the same thing. I have worried that if my nice shiny Christian friends got a glimpse of my tarnished worldly non-Christian friends, that my Christian friends would consider me tainted by association. Oh, no.
Yes, I have stooped that low.
Perhaps Bob felt the same way. Or perhaps he felt that his church friends are uptight, and he wanted to protect his non-Christian friend from what he perceives to be uptight judgment. I don’t know. But I understand.
However, I feel that Bob did not consider what message his request may possibly have sent to Buddy. I can’t say for sure, but it is possible that Bob just unintentionally placed a barrier between his friend and Christ.
If we as Christians believe that Christ really accepts people just the way they are, and that He welcomes all sinners to Him, then we as Christians should act like we believe that. I think this means that we should not be adding barriers between Christ and the world. In America, enough barriers exist already. I don’t think it is our place to ask our worldly friends to clean up for Jesus.
I think this also means that when we find ourselves in primarily Christian social settings, and someone does bring a “tarnished” friend into the circle, then we as Christians need to get the hell over ourselves and welcome that person, F-bombs and all. After all, we have all sinned and fall short of G-d’s glory.
That means me and that means you. I may abstain from most of what the world indulges in, but in and of myself I’m no better than anyone else, you know?
So don’t make your friends clean up for Jesus. Introduce them to Him just as they are, and let Him be in the business of washing them.
It’s not your job.
Posted in I'm Mildly Opinionated. | 2 comments
Posted by Rebecca
Sun, 22 Mar 2009 21:12:00 GMT
…to memorize more scripture.
no comments
Posted by Rebecca
Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:16:00 GMT
L-rd,
Thank you for listening and for understanding me. I don’t know what I would do without you.
Love,
Me
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Posted by Rebecca
Tue, 10 Mar 2009 03:59:00 GMT
I have been struggling with issues of loyalty lately. I’m a loyal person, but what do you do when your loyalties feel like they are competing? And what do you do when you feel like someone you are loyal to is doing something immoral that involves another person you’re loyal to? Do you go with the oldest friendship? Do you do nothing? Is letting someone manipulate a situation to their own advantage ok if it only indirectly affects you? Do you risk losing their friendship is confronting them?
What if they happen to be women? Do you violate the girl rules? What is the righteous course?
This sounds nebulous, but that’s because I don’t really feel like I can disclose too many details without revealing the whole shebang right here.
The oddest thing in all of this has been the fact that one person, indirectly involved, who should be my biggest enemy, ended up being the only one on my side. I don’t even know what to make of that. That’s some weird brand of loyalty that I don’t understand.
no comments
Posted by Rebecca
Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:42:00 GMT
The question of late is this: “How much significance do I ascribe to events, and how much significance do the events have in and of themselves?”
I’m talking little things. Bumping into someone. Thinking that you wish you could have Z and then Z comes your way, but it will take a big risk to keep it.
I’ve always believed that everything happens for a reason - even the small things. But lately I’ve been second-guessing this, and wondering if I just see things as how I want them to be.
Does this make any sense? I can’t go into details, but lately a lot of little things have happened and I can’t make heads or tails of them, which is unusual for me. So I’m tempted to chalk it up to happenstance.
What do you think? Do you practice this nonsense too?
1 comment
