I have been meaning to get a new blog rolling for a while now, but life kept getting in the way! As I sat in church this morning, and after a couple of weeks of lots of different emotions, I decided today was the day! So let's be about it...shall we? :)
It appears that Fall is truly upon us. The leaves are changing and the windshield has needed scraping a couple of days. Though I love Spring and all the new promise it brings, I have always loved Fall more. To me, Fall feels more like a time of renewal. I love the "feeling" of the season we are about to enter...first a time of thanksgiving, and then a season of giving and joy. I argue and fight against all the commercialism that starts this time of year...but I love it to the very heart of me! I get frustrated with people that gripe about the "money" aspect of the holidays. Change it. Within you. Don't spend all your time moaning about what shouldn't be...spend your time making it what it feels like it should be to you.
The theme of the message at church today was joy, though that isn't what hit me the hardest :) What got me thinking was the Pastor sharing a story about how someone he respected saying something to him that crushed him. What really got me was that even in the retelling of a story that happened years ago, he was still greatly affected by it. I appreciated his honesty in sharing how deeply he was hurt...and it brought several instances of my own to mind. But the thing that had the most impact was just the reminder about how imperfect we all are.
I think one of the things that gives Christians a "bad name" is the way we treat each other! We are sometimes so busy living other peoples lives "right" we don't pay enough attention to our own. Is it really easier to see others perceived shortcomings, or is it just easier to try to change them? I don't like the statement "don't judge me" because I also believe we have a responsibility to be "fruit inspectors" for fellow believers. But when we don't like what we are being told, we say "it's not our place to judge!". Baloney! It's your heart and your intentions I'm not to judge. Your actions are a whole different story.
However, I don't believe that applies to people who do not profess a belief in Christ. There isn't a universal scale to measure everyone by. I can't expect someone who isn't a christian to live by the same standards I try to live by. I had a friend at school recently tell me something that filled me with disbelief. There was a group at school handing out Bibles, and they attempted to hand her one with the statement "here, you look like you need to be saved". Really?? Can't you think of about a thousand different things to say at that moment??
If you aren't a christian, I also challenge you to not be reading this going "yeah!! stupid christian's think they are SO righteous!!". Totally not my point. I think we are ALL too busy thinking we know how to live everyone else's life better than they are doing it. Stop it. Live your life. Live it well and open and be giving and kind.
Since it is Sunday, and it appears I am already in a preachy sort of mood...I will relate one more story. I went to WalMart several weeks ago. It was fairly late on a Sunday evening. I asked the checker how he was doing, and he looked at me like I had 2 heads for even speaking to him. We then chatted while he scanned my stuff, and he asked my why I was in getting groceries so late. I told him I was going to stop earlier but it looked like it was really busy. He then cautioned me to never come in on a Sunday right after church because people were so rude then. Then he shook my hand and thanked me for not treating him like he was beneath me...for taking the time to talk with him.
So what is the moral of the story? I've been told I was "too christian". I don't even know what that means. I screw up all. the. time. I say the wrong things...do the wrong things...behave in a way that makes me cringe later. I treat others with disrespect. I can take a llloonnggg time getting to forgiveness. But Jesus doesn't expect me to be perfect :) He just expects me to keep trying. To give that forgiveness when it is due. To act in a way that brings glory to Him and not to me. I don't want to offend others with my faith, but I'm not going to be someone I'm not to make them comfortable either (most of the time). This is what my life looks like. Don't be about trying to change me...and I will make my best effort to not measure your life on my scale either.
But be nice to the people that work at WalMart (or wherever!). This guy was a dad with wife & 2 kids at home he was trying to support while he was going to school to be a teacher. Dude deserves a medal!! If you don't want to chat with him...at least give him a smile & be kind!! The end.
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