What we believe is often based on what we know, have experienced, or have been told to believe. The issue with basing our beliefs, our thoughts, and our evaluations on what only we are aware of we are very limited in our perspective. Perhaps we’ve been told that this or that would not be the way “our family” does life, business or what have you. That caution works for us for we trust that our “authorities” share only that which is meant for good in our lives. The trust is there with intent from those authorities that they are in fact, teaching us from their “best” perspective too, for most folks do not intentionally harm anyone. they simply reveal and repeat what they know. There’s this false belief that somehow “nice people” don’t….xyz…but ask any family in a cancer ward, any homeowner who has faced a flood, look to children who have lost a parent in 911 or whose father is on a battle field, life’s hardships is not checking the “naughty or nice” list…life is an equal opportunity operator.
The problem with rules bound living is that rules are often broken and the awareness that comes from the new experience leads to new perspective. “Oh…it wasn’t the way I thought it would be…” you know the moment…you’ve seen them if not experienced them…when the homeless man reveals he lost his balance because when he returned from being in Vietnam…his wife was gone and he just couldn’t recover. When you find out she who is screaming with her need to be accepted, was born with a mixed genetic bag and some doctor in the 60’s made a decision to make her a girl, when everything within her psyche is the guy she feels herself to be at 40. The hurt, spewing, vicious personality who reveals that once upon a time she came home to her life as a housewife to find her husband had left the country with his secretary and her 3 toddlers to never return and she is somehow, unbelievably set up to never see them again and no authority can help her…no matter that she kept house, she made dinner, did the PTA and loved them fiercely. The rules we create and believe will keep us safe simply don’t have super powers to protect us…though often they support an expected life, but life has a way of allowing unexpected things to happen.
Ask any person who thought that others who chose “that” lifestyle, whatever that defines for them to be are “untouchables”…right after they spend time with that person up close and personal. Sees the pain, joy, and life that person is living. Experiences their hardships, their struggles, and the ultimate unfairness of the difficulties their lifestyle brings….whether it’s homelessness, homosexuality, or hippy mentality of not owning, not plugging into a traditional life. Turns out, most folks are folks… we struggle, we hurt, we succeed, and we simply are each worth loving.
What jars do you have in your life cupboard? You know the ones, the neat tidy definers of what you can accept or not accept in your daily life? Where are your boundaries? What defines past where you can go? Who is allowed in your life, and who is past what you can handle? How often do you assign “fault” to the difficulties folks are facing while dismissing the brokenness they are experiencing and walk away?
In my world I find God hasn’t called me to work with the masses, but with hearts and projects He puts before me. I like to make neat, tidy definers of who and what I am to be. You know the ones, the habits and practices that makes us feel safe, protective of ourselves and others, and loveable. Lately though I have been venturing out more of the jar that feels safe for me. To go where the unknown lives and to do whatever is required to support who He puts there. He calls to me to recognize and realize that all the types of self- protectective safety engagements are an illusion and faith is a walk, not a sit. God honors planning and he supports good stewardship but God’s way is an ordered way….people first…things only when supportive of people. Comfort is knowing God is where ever we are, whatever we face in the safe moments of no perceived calamity and in the not so comfortable spaces of knowing there is much we cannot control.
Like the firefly our life is short. Our lights made to shine and to fly, lighting the way for ourselves and others in the darkness. Honoring those whom the Father puts before us, in deed, in word, and in action. Love of others or of self has little to do with deserve level it seems…and once we begin to take the lid off of that concept…we will all begin to find new places in our lives.
