Last night I was riding my bike home from the library along one of the area's busiest roads. Anyone who knows me can vouch that I choose to ride as much as I can to complete errands, work out or just for fun. Although I was crossing the street with the 'walk' symbol, I nearly got taken out by a car turning on red that ironically sported a bright yellow "Look Twice for Bikes" bumper sticker on the back window. I'm not sure what stuck out more about the driver's interest in biking, his cautionary bumper sticker or his bike that was in tow, securely fastened to the bike rack. None the less my near brush with death came from the same tights wearing, Lance Armstrong wannabe who shares the love of the open road like me. A kindred spirit who understands the frustrations and dangers of cycling on the cement raceway of back country roads, yet who failed to practice what his bumper sticker - and ultimately his overall personal belief - preaches: Look twice for bikes.
It's like when you are driving on the highway and a Mom in a minivan comes blaring past you and shoots you a mean glare and a few choice words, because you were only doing five over in the fast lane. Yet as she speeds past you her silver fish emblem on the back of her four wheel chariot stares you down in joyous, loving humiliation and her bumper sticker asks "What Would Jesus Do?". In similar fashion, we all have folks in our lives who broadcast their faith by acting all high and mighty while leading committee after committee at Church, school and in other extracurriculars, but on Saturday morning are the ones going nuclear on the soccer ref because their little Messi doesn't know a goal from a hole in the ground.
Just the other day a friend had mentioned to me how a close girlfriend of hers had been involved in her Church years ago. She said that her friend and her husband had been on committees, helped at Mass almost weekly and knew most, if not all, of the parishioners. Her friend's husband cheated on her and ultimately left her...so did her Church "friends."
The sad truth is we often forget what we have had preached to us and what we preach towards others. Much like the bike enthusiast who nearly drove me off the road in his Volvo, we forget the things we try to live out daily (i.e. Look Twice for Bikes...unless I'm in my own car). We've all heard these stories of reasons why friends or family members have left a Church because the Church turned on them. When in all reality the Church never did anything. The dutiful 'disciples' of the Church did. It's the ol' mentality of "I'll practice what is preached only when it is convenient for me...or else I'll do what I want."
If we are truly called to love one another (John 13:34) and know that love is of God; and every one that loves is begotten of God(1 John 4:7) then it is time to live it. Not when it fits into our schedule or helps us to gain support, but in all circumstances. It's time to live out what we broadcast to others. Live. A. Life. Worth. Loving.
So your bumper sticker says "What Would JC Do?" I'll tell you what he'd do, he'd love always, often and upon everyone. Your JC bling you wear every day broadcasts for all to see your unyielding love and admiration for the guy and that you are not just invested in a lot of accessories, but you're a disciple. Committed to his teachings, a believer in his ways and a lover of all. Great, now live it. And let's say your car sports a bike rack, fancy road bike and a bumper sticker that says "Look Twice for Bikes"...then I strongly suggest you look twice for bikers. Don't preach it when you're on your bike and forget it behind the wheel of your Volvo. It's time for us all to look twice, live once and love always.
Until next time...
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Love. Show all posts
8.06.2013
7.01.2013
Social ME-Di-UH!
It’s not news to hear that Social Media rules our day and age. Look at any print advertisement and you’ll see an accompaniment of logos for Social Media sites. We’ve become consumed by the craze, which for some has become second nature behind breathing and eating. Professionally we believe that the more Social Media the more support from consumers. Personally, we believe the more we update the world on our love life, personal accomplishments and motivating song lyrics the more satisfied we feel…like we are some sort of D-list celebrity with important things to share with the world. A friend recently posted that “Facebook is like a fridge, you keep checking it and nothing has changed.” Social Media has become a constant in our daily lives and our daily lives have been constantly planned around Social Media.
It’s also no surprise that as we broadcast to the world, and to our ‘friends’ that follow us, we also open ourselves to the risk of a world of hurtfulness and all the stressing over how we stack up towards our friends, all the while diluting our ability to actually be able to handle true relationships with others. I think my friend’s post was wrong. Facebook is like the fridge of a bachelor (i.e. Me), I’ll keep putting food into it and keep checking it, but it always leaves me empty.
If it’s so easy to open up to ‘friends’ and complete strangers through Social Media why is it such a struggle for many to warm up to broadcasting our thoughts, thankfulness and temptations to someone who truly follows us every hour of every day? He tells us that whether He remains seen or distant in our own lives we should strive to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the faith of the gospel (Phil 1:27-28). It is only when we draw near in confidence towards His grace that we may one day receive His mercy and find His grace in our time of need (Hebrews 4: 16). The man is practically an inspirational status update generator for those pick me up quotes when we’re down…and the best part is we don’t have to sign in to read them, there’s no passwords keeping us from them and there’s no pesky updates we don’t understand because His grace hasn’t changed for two thousand years.
As technology grows, Social Media becomes more and more ingrained in our daily lives. The faster life picks up the more stress we put upon ourselves to keep up with these needs. The more stressed and stretched thin, the easier it is to consume ourselves with the needs of x, y and z. With that brings personal pain, social stresses, loneliness and the abandonment of our pride. Now is the time for us to pull back from the poking, posting and pain of Social Media and begin forming true relationships, one’s that don’t leave us empty. Relationships built on love, compassion and purpose. It is the Holy Spirit who says, “I love those who love me (Proverbs 8:17),” “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest (Exodus 33:14),” and the One who says “through prayer be social with me, duh! (This guy).”
It’s also no surprise that as we broadcast to the world, and to our ‘friends’ that follow us, we also open ourselves to the risk of a world of hurtfulness and all the stressing over how we stack up towards our friends, all the while diluting our ability to actually be able to handle true relationships with others. I think my friend’s post was wrong. Facebook is like the fridge of a bachelor (i.e. Me), I’ll keep putting food into it and keep checking it, but it always leaves me empty.
If it’s so easy to open up to ‘friends’ and complete strangers through Social Media why is it such a struggle for many to warm up to broadcasting our thoughts, thankfulness and temptations to someone who truly follows us every hour of every day? He tells us that whether He remains seen or distant in our own lives we should strive to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the faith of the gospel (Phil 1:27-28). It is only when we draw near in confidence towards His grace that we may one day receive His mercy and find His grace in our time of need (Hebrews 4: 16). The man is practically an inspirational status update generator for those pick me up quotes when we’re down…and the best part is we don’t have to sign in to read them, there’s no passwords keeping us from them and there’s no pesky updates we don’t understand because His grace hasn’t changed for two thousand years.
As technology grows, Social Media becomes more and more ingrained in our daily lives. The faster life picks up the more stress we put upon ourselves to keep up with these needs. The more stressed and stretched thin, the easier it is to consume ourselves with the needs of x, y and z. With that brings personal pain, social stresses, loneliness and the abandonment of our pride. Now is the time for us to pull back from the poking, posting and pain of Social Media and begin forming true relationships, one’s that don’t leave us empty. Relationships built on love, compassion and purpose. It is the Holy Spirit who says, “I love those who love me (Proverbs 8:17),” “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest (Exodus 33:14),” and the One who says “through prayer be social with me, duh! (This guy).”
4.08.2013
The Cardinal Rule: Break through the Damn Glass
Tonight before scripture study I stopped in the sanctuary to pray. As I knelt before the Tabernacle my prayer was interrupted by a loud tap on the glass of the window behind me. It didn't keep me from my deep reflection of my life, my struggles and the stresses of my life today. Just as I felt it was getting somewhere the loud tap turned into a flutter of banging against what ended up being the window of the emergency exit door. After pausing my prayer, and the progress of unloading my feelings, I turned towards the far back corner of the Church.
A curious cardinal hovering outside the door was staring inside the Church. Every few seconds the fire truck red bird would make a dash towards the Church only to be swatted away by the glass of the door. After a few moments of being discouraged, rattled and attempting to catch his breadth the feathered friend tried again...and again to no avail. After watching this guy for nearly ten minutes attempt to get in, rest upon the pine tree, try again, hover while fighting his displeasure and trying again, he flew off. He had had enough.
My prayer didn't come in the form of a conversation with God tonight. It came through the cheeky sense of humor from the Big Guy as I witness a concussed bird attempt to break into the Church. That cardinal, was me, and that cardinal was you. Like that cardinal we so often see what it is we need to do to become a better person spiritually, professionally and personally. Like that cardinal we know what we must do to follow that righteous path or to become a better husband or wife but are kept form doing so. Like that cardinal we see those things, but can't seem to get their because there's this glass wall that separates us from point A to point B. The window that allows us to see our destiny, but is the barrier of truly living out our beliefs. Just like that cardinal we try and try and try, then get discouraged.
But the difference between us and that cardinal is that we have strength. We have love. We have a heart that burns with passion. We have been taught that perfect love trumps fear and we see that in the love and life of Christ that we are called to imitate. Being equipped with a love that conquers fear we can break through that damn wall that keeps us from our path.
For me it's figuring out "the next step" in my life as I discern my options and fears of grad school. It's also in the form of knowing where I'd like to see my writing go, but being afraid of the path I must follow to get it there. What is that wall keeping you from conquering in your life? Where is it you're supposed to be? Why are you still banging your head against it?
That bird got discouraged after ten minutes of beating his head against the door...I know the feeling...I tend to beat myself up over a lot of things. What that cardinal didn't know was that I had walked closer to the door and could have let him in, but he flew away before I could help. We have someone waiting on the other side who will never give up on us and is always calling us to enter in. Let nothing hold you back, no matter how many times you fail to break through the glass door that is holding you back.
Until next time...
A curious cardinal hovering outside the door was staring inside the Church. Every few seconds the fire truck red bird would make a dash towards the Church only to be swatted away by the glass of the door. After a few moments of being discouraged, rattled and attempting to catch his breadth the feathered friend tried again...and again to no avail. After watching this guy for nearly ten minutes attempt to get in, rest upon the pine tree, try again, hover while fighting his displeasure and trying again, he flew off. He had had enough.
My prayer didn't come in the form of a conversation with God tonight. It came through the cheeky sense of humor from the Big Guy as I witness a concussed bird attempt to break into the Church. That cardinal, was me, and that cardinal was you. Like that cardinal we so often see what it is we need to do to become a better person spiritually, professionally and personally. Like that cardinal we know what we must do to follow that righteous path or to become a better husband or wife but are kept form doing so. Like that cardinal we see those things, but can't seem to get their because there's this glass wall that separates us from point A to point B. The window that allows us to see our destiny, but is the barrier of truly living out our beliefs. Just like that cardinal we try and try and try, then get discouraged.
But the difference between us and that cardinal is that we have strength. We have love. We have a heart that burns with passion. We have been taught that perfect love trumps fear and we see that in the love and life of Christ that we are called to imitate. Being equipped with a love that conquers fear we can break through that damn wall that keeps us from our path.
For me it's figuring out "the next step" in my life as I discern my options and fears of grad school. It's also in the form of knowing where I'd like to see my writing go, but being afraid of the path I must follow to get it there. What is that wall keeping you from conquering in your life? Where is it you're supposed to be? Why are you still banging your head against it?
That bird got discouraged after ten minutes of beating his head against the door...I know the feeling...I tend to beat myself up over a lot of things. What that cardinal didn't know was that I had walked closer to the door and could have let him in, but he flew away before I could help. We have someone waiting on the other side who will never give up on us and is always calling us to enter in. Let nothing hold you back, no matter how many times you fail to break through the glass door that is holding you back.
Until next time...
3.25.2012
The not -so-"Churchy-type" don't belong in Church?
About two weeks ago I was sitting before Mass with a group of high schoolers from one of the youth groups I am apart of. As we quietly awaited for Mass to begin I over heard two senior girls begin to sounds disgusted at something. From my prayerful state I leaned in to listen to what had made them grown so miserable. The one girl began by saying and unfortunately I quote: "Oh my God what is she doing here?" I looked towards the side entrance and in came a young girl with her mother, most likely a classmate of theirs. The other girl, just as taken back by the sight of this girl at Church, replied back to her friend with "I know right? I cant believe she's here."
Now i pride myself on not being an overbearing, super scary, Jesus Freak, nor do I get worked up over much of how people respond to their faith as long as their seeking out a deeper relationship with the Lord. I leaned in and asked if everything was OK? Both girls shot back that that girl was not a the "Churchy-type" and "they can't believe she is here." I looked at them, a bit saddened and all together disappointed at what I had heard.
Now there were two parts to this that really chapped my tuckus. The first item was that these girls were judging a classmate openly while in Church and secondly, these girls claimed that this young girl is not the "Churchy-type."
After Mass I pulled the girls aside while we were getting food before youth group and told them (and I paraphrase):
It's not our place to judge anyone in our lives and we all often forget that. We're quick to judge someone for something we've heard, seen, etc, yet we don't like it when people do the same about us, so it's not fair to do it to someone else. There is only one person that can judge...and you're not Him. As for her not being of the "Churchy-type," I think we've forgotten the example Christ live for us. We see so often in Scripture JC hanging out with the sick, the beggars, the lost, the weirdos and wackos. He was such a righteous and loving man that He calls us to accept and love all people, especially those we hate, judge or can't stand. So if this girl for whatever reason is not what you claim is the "Churchy-type" than most likely she needs to be here and we need to help.
It's hard to imagine how easy it is for us to judge others and talk about them behind their backs. I'm guilty of that and unfortunately I "constructively" did it today about a friend of mine. Yet, many who do so are also the ones that claim to be faithful, spiritual and religious. We forget no one, not even me, is perfect. There only has been two people that lived such a pure, faithful life and again, we aren't them...in case you were wondering who I'm referring to...JC and his momma, Mary.
In the news, online and everywhere we've heard all the political crap going on, we've seen stories about the young man's death in Florida and the outrage and claims of racism, there continues to be murders in our streets, school violence and bullying. Yet, here we are living our lives in a world full of all this hate and judgement and at some point we fall into, some days more than others. We don't get it.
Life's too short to judge others and if the big guy can hang with those that are not the "Churchy-type" than I surely can strive to do the same, because no one, no one, can determine that they are better than the next person or more Holy. Some people who have perfect attendance at Church and pray daily still commit sin and still fall down just like anyone else.
This week I have challenged myself to not judge another person or speak illy of someone behind their back and I believe the world would be a different place if we all did this in our daily lives.
Until next time...
Now i pride myself on not being an overbearing, super scary, Jesus Freak, nor do I get worked up over much of how people respond to their faith as long as their seeking out a deeper relationship with the Lord. I leaned in and asked if everything was OK? Both girls shot back that that girl was not a the "Churchy-type" and "they can't believe she is here." I looked at them, a bit saddened and all together disappointed at what I had heard.
Now there were two parts to this that really chapped my tuckus. The first item was that these girls were judging a classmate openly while in Church and secondly, these girls claimed that this young girl is not the "Churchy-type."
After Mass I pulled the girls aside while we were getting food before youth group and told them (and I paraphrase):
It's not our place to judge anyone in our lives and we all often forget that. We're quick to judge someone for something we've heard, seen, etc, yet we don't like it when people do the same about us, so it's not fair to do it to someone else. There is only one person that can judge...and you're not Him. As for her not being of the "Churchy-type," I think we've forgotten the example Christ live for us. We see so often in Scripture JC hanging out with the sick, the beggars, the lost, the weirdos and wackos. He was such a righteous and loving man that He calls us to accept and love all people, especially those we hate, judge or can't stand. So if this girl for whatever reason is not what you claim is the "Churchy-type" than most likely she needs to be here and we need to help.
It's hard to imagine how easy it is for us to judge others and talk about them behind their backs. I'm guilty of that and unfortunately I "constructively" did it today about a friend of mine. Yet, many who do so are also the ones that claim to be faithful, spiritual and religious. We forget no one, not even me, is perfect. There only has been two people that lived such a pure, faithful life and again, we aren't them...in case you were wondering who I'm referring to...JC and his momma, Mary.
In the news, online and everywhere we've heard all the political crap going on, we've seen stories about the young man's death in Florida and the outrage and claims of racism, there continues to be murders in our streets, school violence and bullying. Yet, here we are living our lives in a world full of all this hate and judgement and at some point we fall into, some days more than others. We don't get it.
Life's too short to judge others and if the big guy can hang with those that are not the "Churchy-type" than I surely can strive to do the same, because no one, no one, can determine that they are better than the next person or more Holy. Some people who have perfect attendance at Church and pray daily still commit sin and still fall down just like anyone else.
This week I have challenged myself to not judge another person or speak illy of someone behind their back and I believe the world would be a different place if we all did this in our daily lives.
Until next time...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)