It's been a while since I've last made a post. I started this thing thinking that I would post a blog everyday. It didn't take long to realize that not only does that take a bit of time but also, a bit of inspiration. As much as I would like to think that my life is chock full of mindless inspirations, it's not. Well, maybe it is and maybe I need to slow down to see them.
I was just thinking. Instead of me waiting for some profound inspiration to hit me, why can't I just be myself? I deal with things just like the next person and, just like the next person, sometimes I feel alone in dealing with them.
I have had some personal issues that I've had to work through. Heck, let's be truthful. I'm still working through personal issues. I was thinking the other day about what God desires of us. Are lives changed with eloquent words and dynamic analogies or are people touched with real issues dealt with in real time? God wants transparency from us. We all fall short of His glory and this is not a competition about who has led the most perfect life. If it was, and we could win in our own right, Jesus would not have needed to come.
Does light shine better through a window with a rose colored filter on it or one that is completely transparent? I think we all know the answer to that. God can move so freely and shine so brightly through our transparent weaknesses. His word even says that He is made strong in our weaknesses. So why are we always trying to act like we're not weak? Why is being weak so...um, weak?
I think that we cover our weaknesses and faults because we are scared. We're scared of what other's will think or do. We're scared that exposing our self will make us vulnerable to the scrutiny of others. And quite honestly, it does. But, so what?
In the Bible (John 7:53-8:11), some religious men dragged a woman out of her adulterous bed and in before Jesus. At that time, women were stoned for committing such an act. The men were looking to Jesus for his take on the situation and were quick to quote the law of Moses. They prompted Jesus for an answer.
Jesus simply started drawing in the sand. He looked at them and simply said, "Let any of you who is without sin, throw the first stone." (I'm paraphrasing.) Then he started drawing in the sand again. One by one, everyone left.
Now, this story has always meant a lot to me. Maybe because Jesus was so unfazed by everyone's demands. He moved in his own time. Or it could be that Jesus, who actually was without sin, did nothing in retaliation toward the woman. He simply forgave her and sent her on her way. That's crazy to me.
When I became pregnant with my son, I wasn't married. I was looked down on by those who'll I'll describe as "religious men". I wonder what Jesus would have done. I'm thinking He would doodle in the sand, forgive me, and send me on my way.
I pray that my blog will be a platform for God to shine brightly through my transparency and for me to have the courage to be transparent.