Just a few weeks ago I was sitting at work marveling at the "normalness" of my life. Usually my days are marked with some sort of battle outside the norms of homework, bills, household chores, and the like. But at that moment I realized I had nothing but the norm going on. That's when I knew something would be coming. They say a Christian's walk is like traveling through mountains: sometimes you're on top of the world and sometimes you're in the valleys. I wouldn't say that moment was a mountain top but definitely hiking.
These past two weeks I must have come across my valley. So many things are going on, filling my plate with added stress...most of which I can do nothing about. A friend's mom is in very poor health, one relationship is working through the rocks while another two are soaring through the air (the dicotomy of which is a little hard to handle), a very close friendship is suffering a bit, and a best friend broke his femur just this morning. SO much going on that I am forced to handle with little ability, if any, to help. I suppose this is God's way of teaching me about my hero complex :).
Is it an indication of spiritual maturity to acknowledge the magnitude of these events and to further acknowledge that they are out of my hands? I hope so. I was watching Joyce Meyer on some podcasts at work and she was talking about truly understanding that God's in control and has everything covered, while all the while pushing on relentlessly in faith. If God never gives me more than I can handle, which the only handling I can possibly do here is to be a good friend and face the stressors coming from all sides, then I must relentlessly push on in the faith everything will work out as God sees fit. I don't have to know why these things are happening the way they are, I just have to trust it will all turn out ok.
That's what my spirit says. My heart and head are much more conflicted. I think it's important for everyone to know that just because you're a Christian doesn't mean you have super human abilities to "let go and let God." Actually, I'd love nothing more than to just get away from it all for a few days. Since I can't do that, my only weapon is prayer. The Bible says in James 5:16 that "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." I believe that with my whole heart. Please pray with me!
Becky
Friday, March 19, 2010
Friday, March 5, 2010
The Fine Line
C.S. Lewis once said,
I'll be completely honest, I'm a Christian. I make no claims to live an exemplary life like Billy Graham or someone most people hold up as a great Christian patriot. I simply try to live and grow in the basic beliefs and lifestyle handed down to me from my grandparents, to my parents, to me. At the same time, it's not enough for me to just continue that line of living...I want to be better, stronger, deeper, and more imaginative.
I was driving back to my hometown today and got to appreciate not only a warm, Spring-like day, but the kind of evening sky dotted by only a few clouds. I'm from a part of Texas where you can actually watch the sun as it dips below the horizon as far as the eye can see. The bright orange hues where the sun has just gone to rest shoot even more wonderful hues of light blues, purples, pinks, and creams. Opposite of that is the ever growing depth of blue leading to the night sky. I don't know if people who have never seen that really feel the kind of soothing peace that sort of thing can bring, but people where I'm from get it. And it got me thinking...maybe heaven really isn't that far away.
One of my favorite books of all time is The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. I won't ruin the story for you, but Lewis presents a quote that sums the premise of the book: "Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither." I began thinking of how the beauty of a sunset here is far more dull than a sunset in eternity. The love I experience through various friendships and my family is miniscule compared to the love I will feel one day. And all the dreams and hopes I have for greatness for myself are nothing compared to what lies ahead. I should think that even the sweet taste of victory recently experienced by Olympic athletes would not taste sweet at all once you taste the victory of your salvation in Heaven. I long for these things, and because I am left longing, as Lewis says, the only logical conclusion is that I am made for another place.
However, I can aim at Heaven now, and earth will be thrown in. And it's true! Even non-believers can agree that there is a standard that, could we all live up to it, would make for a Eutopia on earth. It's really the same concept for my lifestyle: treat everyone with kindness, don't worry too much about your struggles because they will pass, be optimistic and hopeful. There's actually a lot more to it than that, but I aim for heaven. See, Lewis also wrote, basically, that those who aim for Heaven will look back on earth as the fine line, the beginning of Heaven. And those who do not will look back on earth as already being in hell.
So, enjoy the Texas sunset. Maybe you will find a little piece of Heaven in it.
"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."
I'll be completely honest, I'm a Christian. I make no claims to live an exemplary life like Billy Graham or someone most people hold up as a great Christian patriot. I simply try to live and grow in the basic beliefs and lifestyle handed down to me from my grandparents, to my parents, to me. At the same time, it's not enough for me to just continue that line of living...I want to be better, stronger, deeper, and more imaginative.
I was driving back to my hometown today and got to appreciate not only a warm, Spring-like day, but the kind of evening sky dotted by only a few clouds. I'm from a part of Texas where you can actually watch the sun as it dips below the horizon as far as the eye can see. The bright orange hues where the sun has just gone to rest shoot even more wonderful hues of light blues, purples, pinks, and creams. Opposite of that is the ever growing depth of blue leading to the night sky. I don't know if people who have never seen that really feel the kind of soothing peace that sort of thing can bring, but people where I'm from get it. And it got me thinking...maybe heaven really isn't that far away.
One of my favorite books of all time is The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. I won't ruin the story for you, but Lewis presents a quote that sums the premise of the book: "Aim at heaven and you will get earth thrown in. Aim at earth and you get neither." I began thinking of how the beauty of a sunset here is far more dull than a sunset in eternity. The love I experience through various friendships and my family is miniscule compared to the love I will feel one day. And all the dreams and hopes I have for greatness for myself are nothing compared to what lies ahead. I should think that even the sweet taste of victory recently experienced by Olympic athletes would not taste sweet at all once you taste the victory of your salvation in Heaven. I long for these things, and because I am left longing, as Lewis says, the only logical conclusion is that I am made for another place.
However, I can aim at Heaven now, and earth will be thrown in. And it's true! Even non-believers can agree that there is a standard that, could we all live up to it, would make for a Eutopia on earth. It's really the same concept for my lifestyle: treat everyone with kindness, don't worry too much about your struggles because they will pass, be optimistic and hopeful. There's actually a lot more to it than that, but I aim for heaven. See, Lewis also wrote, basically, that those who aim for Heaven will look back on earth as the fine line, the beginning of Heaven. And those who do not will look back on earth as already being in hell.
So, enjoy the Texas sunset. Maybe you will find a little piece of Heaven in it.
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