Labels

It seems in our culture we are quick to assign "labels" to people. Hipster, goth, punk, quiet, jock, whatever. We assign most of these labels based on how someone looks, and then with each label we assign specific character traits to each person fitting the look of their respective label.

What we don't realize is that when we consciously or subconsciously assign people to these groups, we expect them to act only within the boundaries of their label. We expect these peoples' minds to be closed and incapable of thinking, feeling, or acting inconsistently with characteristics associated with "their kind."

I will boldly say that I think it is we, who assign labels to others, that are the close-minded ones. We are the ones that fail to acknowledge that person's positive actions or write their behavior off as an anomaly. We focus on the negative, instead of seeing the rose among thorns. This is a character flaw of our own.

I'm sure that others could put a label on me, but I know that I don't want to be expected to act a certain way, and I know that there are many ways in which I'd act outside of the preconceived notions that others may form about me.

Similarly, I often place these labels on my acquaintances. My desire is to appreciate each person for their good qualities and not become hung up on their negative qualities that may blind me from appreciating their strengths... just as I'd want others to do about me.

A late night revelation

I came home to an empty apartment with Scott away for the night on a retreat. I wasn't uncomfortable being alone, but something definitely felt a little off. Upon returning home around 12am from ice skating and coffee with friends, I was faced with a choice about how to spend the rest of my evening alone. It crossed my mind to read the Word or to spend some time in prayer, but since it was so late, and I was really trying to forget that I was alone, I decided to watch an episode of a tv series that a friend lent me on dvd. Since I wasn't very tired, I was really hoping than an episode or 2 would tired me out and put me to sleep.

One episode turned into two... times 3,4,5? I don't even know how many episodes I ended up watching, but it was A LOT. Each time an episode ended I didn't feel any more tired, and in fact I found myself really wanting to find out what happened in the next episode. Getting closer to the end of the season, my appetite for this show became insatiable - feeling as if I wouldn't be full until I had seen the last episode. Well, I finally got to the last episode at about 3:30am and was just starting to feel a little tired. As we all know, season-enders are always cliff hangers, and this last episode was a sad one that left viewers uncertain of a character's fate. I felt a tear welling up and the fullness I thought I'd receive from finishing the season was instantly drained. The course of the events that transpired in the last few minutes of the show literally left me feeling absolutely hollow inside.

I didn't get it - I sat there and watched the whole season, and how was I repayed? How was I "filled?" By witnessing a tragic life event in a character's life and feeling their emotional pain. Instantly I made a connection to how much this can relate to my spiritual life, and what started as one tear shed for the character's sadness turned into a waterfall of tears for my own spiritual deprivation.

I became instantly aware of the fact that we so often fill ourselves with things the world has to offer. We think that once we have it all (the end of the season for me), we will be complete - we will be satisfied.

Some have an unquenchable need for social acceptance, others feel fulfilled when we achieve good grades or have a job lined up. Others find false love in the arms of another - in a relationship that is not glorifying our Creator. And for others, it's not the presence of a sin, but an absence of passion for the person of Christ. And the list goes on...

I believe the craving for these false-fillings can be rightly filled by simply rejoicing in Christ and finding our acceptance and worth in God. My prayer is to have an insatiable attetite and thirst for God's word and to seek love first and foremost through Him.

Singing it isn't enough...

Often I am perplexed by the things that some Christian bands say or write on social media sites or by what I overhear. I often hear them joke about things that, I believe, should not be joked about. I often hear curse words muttered offstage from the very same lips that sing praises to God onstage. By no means would I ever expect the members of a Christian band be perfect, however I do wish that they took their faith more seriously, if they are attempting to teach others about Christ through their music. It's no wonder Christians are called hypocrites when the front-men for Christianity (and bands) are teaching one way of life and living another, singing praiseful lyrics and then using their tongue as a sword, speaking words of admiration to their wife but lusting after another woman's appearance behind closed doors, saying they want to reach others with their music but only go after their own agenda at shows. It seems they think that singing about Christ is enough and that living it isn't a necessary and vital part to their ministry.

I LOVE this verse. It's a great one that reminds us how challenging, yet rewarding it is to live in this world, but not be of it.

James 1:22-25 (NIV)

²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. ²⁶ Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. ²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Checklist faith

For so long, I've looked at my faith as a checklist of what I was doing right or wrong by the standards of God's teachings in the Bible. I have lived each day taking those areas in which I fall short and have made it my mission to purify my heart in that area.

In the last year in particular, I have worked a lot on modesty and being particularly careful so that my dress isn't distracting and wouldn't cause another man to fall. I have worked on my patience this year and have gotten several opportunities to practice patience... especially as a newlywed! I have worked on my anger, and have made great improvements on how I respond to others. I have also worked on listening - truly listening to someone instead of thinking of what I'll say next.

I don't claim to be perfect at any of these things, but I have recognized my short-comings and am working to improve in these areas. God has given me an eye to lovingly recognize my flaws, and scripture and His guidance to purify my heart. Years ago I would have called myself a believer in God, but have come to be a follower of God. After these years of refinement, I was able to check off a laundry list of ways that I was following God, and as a result, I fooled myself into believing that I was following Christ with my whole heart.

From the outside it looks like I'm living a pretty good Christian life and to be quite frank, I believed I was too. But I've come to realize that I have a huge area in which I am lacking - worship.

I do authentically worship on Sundays at church, I frequently sing praise songs around our apartment (just ask Scott!), and I do take the time to thank God for the little things throughout the day, but I'm not sure it's out of passionate love and affection for my God.

I had been so distracted for many years with my "checklist faith," that I missed worshiping Him with an abandoned heart. My mind was constantly racing with new ways to improve myself and live more for Christ that I have failed to just bask in the glory of God - to just sit and be quiet before Him and to just enjoy his presence.

Inadequacy

When I was in high school, I remember heartbreak after heartbreak of not being invited to things by my friends, my sense of humor not being understood, my values not being valued, and the list goes on. I remember constantly feeling rejection from those around me. And not just my personality... other things too: my voice was never quite good enough, I rarely placed in dance competitions despite this hobby consuming my time, etc. I remember pouring every ounce of my soul into friendships only to be talked about behind my back, or to be ignored or not called back. I remember feeling so lonely and inadequate.

It's been a beautiful thing to look back at who I was and reflect on my transformation. Today, the same things continue to happen, but knowing who I am in Christ gives me the confidence I need to shield myself from the arrows of the enemy that try to pierce me with feelings of inadequacy and feelings of being left out. The enemy tries to make us feel alone, tries to isolate us, and keep us from sharing feelings such as these, because when we are most isolated, we are most vulnerable to his attacks. And when we do shut ourselves down, it is giving him power over us. I am so thankful that today when I begin to have feelings of inadequacy, that I remember that God created me, loves me, and has bought me with the blood of His son. And because I am a blood-bought daughter of The Most High, I know that I am loved... and that gives me all the confidence I need.