New Persectives

In the course of the past year, there have been multiple issues that have presented themselves to me that have challenged me, particularly those of maturity (in work and elsewhere) and what the concept of love fully entails. I've touched on this subject before in previous notes, but it never ceases in changing in shape and color. For myself as a young woman entering her twenties, I am daily faced with the choice of entering into one of two worlds. The first offers a life of leisure and little care - one of slacking off responsibilities to party hearty and to only work towards the next paycheck or test grade. The second option is to spend my time cultivating myself as much in my walk with the Lord as He allows in and through these responsibilities in addition to daily striving to positively influence those around me. Personally, I've already chosen the latter option, but it is a huge challenge. With the pressures of media and peers pushing me to do what I feel, it's hard to stick to my guns and not give up working towards a better life. But more importantly, things can be too accommodating in such an advanced society as we live in. Have you ever thought about how things would be if we had nothing to rely on but God? We already do, in a sense, but I'm meaning in scratching the influences of family, peers, and so on. What more would we do if we lived for God and the furtherance of His kingdom alone rather than just seeking to fulfill the minimum of what's required of us? A lot of it boils down to just learning to think on your own and act on what you should already be doing without having others to tell you what's needed.

The concept of love tends to be much more vague, as it is so easily misconstrued as a crush or rationalized/overused in such a way that it lessens its value. The song "Chasing Cars" has lyrics that express how often and too little the words 'I love you' have lost their depth in the phrase, "Those three words are said too much, they're not enough." I know that it's hard for me as it is for everyone else not to jump into something without thinking, as we all just want to find that person that values us for who we are that we can care for in return, resulting in a hasty relationship with the first likely candidate. Even if it is the right person, not waiting on God's timing will still cause problems in the end. A huge issue is that it is said without really knowing what's meant by it. To truly love someone and say so, not only would you need to know the person fully, but it also means that no matter how circumstances or the personal character in you or the other person change, whether in fault or no, you'll still be there to support and care for them. It means a willingness to give of yourself, often times sacrificing your own comfort for the sake of the other person's happiness, or doing whatever is realistically in your capabilities to contribute to a better life for the other, be it friend, lover, spouse, family member, or, most importantly, foe. And Who better to consider as a perfect example of this kind of love than our Savior? He is the Son of God, our Creator, Ruler of the universe, One Whom we personally crucified in our sin, but yet conquered death for our sake and still continues to daily intercede for us, relates to our pain and suffering, and loves and protects us, though we've done absolutely nothing to deserve it. Josh Bales' song "Your Love Holds On" better describes it:

There are reasons you could leave me
Oh a million or so
So why you stay here, why you do this
I really don't know
I'm not handsome, I'm not special
I'm just an ordinary guy
I lose my car keys, I'm always moody
So tell me why

You love me
When I'm anything but lovely
When no one else would want me
Your love holds on

What did you know from the beginning
All the wretched things I'd done
That underneath my silver armor
I was hiding who I was
So you'd be blameless if you left me
And I would have to understand
What don't you see now this is crazy
You could find a better man

You love me
When I'm anything but lovely
When no one else would want me
Your love holds on

In the middle of the night you love me
First thing in the morning
When I'm fast asleep and helpless
You don't love me any less
I'm less than a man ever should be
And all the odds are against me
You love me
You love me
You love me

Like a River

Have you ever just sat and watched a river? It's very self-reflective when you think about it. When still, it shows exactly what's around with almost succinct clarity. It's peaceful, beautiful, and the very image of refreshment. But all that's needed is a boat or a storm to rock its waters and send waves rippling, but yet that doesn't change the fact that it's a river - clear and unbroken. Think about it! When we are still and find peace in our lives, we can most clearly discern God's will, best do His bidding, and thus portray the image of Whom we were created in. Everything seems to fall into place from that moment and float on. But let a calamity or a drastic change strike and it rocks our stability, makes us question our direction, weakens our faith, and yet never changes who God made us to be and the beauty remaining in His creation, with the promise of it being being restored in full soon.