An Idea

Do you ever have an idea that’s been hammered at you since the as long as you can remember?  Then, all of the sudden it hits you square in the face, and as you look back you can see the progression through conversations, moments and attitudes that led up to this point.  It’s so simple you just can’t comprehend why you haven’t seen it in this light before. 

Ever since I was young I have heard about the importance of loving people.  I have heard about how I am supposed to follow the Bible and love my neighbor and love my enemy.  None of this seemed to be real to me though.  It was all “Bible times” stuff to me.  I guess you could say the words living to me like they should be.  Looking back I guess when people talked about the “living” word I just figured it meant it always applied to the present.  I’m starting to see now that it’s not merely a referral to how to apply.  The words in this book are alive in that they are meant to be a part of who we are every day, every breath.  The words are alive because they carry more meaning than just a way to live life…these words offer the key to life itself.  In the past I have always looked at it as a “guidebook” or an “answer book” and a lot people had taught this concept.  I’m starting to realize that the Bible should never be merely a book about how to live.  This book holds the secrets to the questions everyone in life is dying to know.  Who am I and what in the world am I supposed to do with my life.  We all wish we really knew ourselves.  We all wished we could feel passionate about our life the same way we think others feel passionate about theirs. 

I recently had a conversation with my parents over breakfast.  Once again my arrogant attitude came up as I revealed (not on purpose) that I am even prideful about my weaknesses.  In the moment, it was just another speech I had made up to cover the reality of my life.  On my inside I scream for someone to know the deeper parts of me, but my outside responds with a canned speech about how I have it all figured out.  Or how I have it all figured out that I don’t have it figured out…so really I have it figured out.  It is just me making sure I control the conversation again.  My worst fear and my greatest desire is that someone will ask me a question that knocks me off balance and forces me to reveal my heart. 

Our conversation was about how I choose to not to hang out or associate myself with certain people because they aren’t like me.  I gave various reasons like how it’s just human nature to associate with those who share similar personalities.  As I finished an amazing book I have been reading tonight (“Who Stole My Church”) I was struck by a story of a broken man that the people in the book encountered in their church.  This man transformed the way they looked at their church and their role in it.  I found myself eating up every word of this story and my heart longed to be able to impact someone like these people were.  I thought to myself “if only I could make an impact on someone’s life.”  Then it hit me, I had that moment where that simple idea became real to me.  These people were exercising our purpose on this earth, they were loving a broken man, a reject just like Jesus loved people.  Now, we have all heard this over and over and probably can all talk about how this is our purpose to love people.  I myself have talked like this.  But never before has it actually taken form in my mind where I began to picture the faces of people.  So many people I have written off because they dress weird, or talk weird, or look social awkward.  Then I would turn around and talk about how I wish I could make an impact on hurting people.  As I write this I shake my head.  I was so blind because I wasn’t willing to actually put myself in a situation where this could happen.  I didn’t want to be uncomfortable.  I didn’t want to associate myself with “uncool” people.  Yet, discovering the hearts of these broken people are what life is all about.  You want a life of fulfillment and passion, risk yourself for someone else and see true change.  Share your brokenness and watch how the love of Jesus can miraculously enter into that place and rescue a life.  I pray tonight that I can change my attitude.  I want to see people for who they are…precious children of God.  I want to see my life taken over and used for something meaningful.  I want my pride and judgments to give way to a love so powerful it can change and heal the most broken heart.  To truly love one another…my purpose…my life…my joy.