Okay- as I was saying...after I had been going to a particular church and became friends with a Pastor's wife there, she shared something with me that was probably a little difficult to share! She told me that when I was picking my children up and she was seeing their mix-matched clothes, she was thinking we were poor and that I must be a single mom.
The truth was that I was married and though we weren't rich, it was a conscious decision I made to let my children pick and choose the clothes they would wear. It really didn't bother me whether or not they matched. I just enjoyed the outfits they came up with as creative as I felt they were!
Now, I know this is another example of how our clothing makes a statement...and maybe there is something to be said about taking the time deciding what exactly we are trying to state!
HA!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Diversity
In church Sunday our pastor was talking about being diverse and accepting others- not prejudging. He made a comment that really hit me where it hurts!
He said, "Everyone has been prejudice at one time about something." I was sitting there thinking, "No. No. I don't believe have been prejudice. I love culture, understanding various religions, differences in people..."
He also asked us how we would feel if our child brought home a boyfriend or girlfriend of a different race. Again, I thought, "I would really be fine with that!"
Then it hit me...this feeling in my gut that said, "You judge people sometimes." I was sitting there fighting that "inner voice" .... "DO I?"
Then into my mind came the thoughts I had had just the day before at the store with my husband standing there with me when I saw a girl with very short daisy duke shorts and a long sweater that almost made me wonder if she had shorts on, and a pair of high heels. She was young, she wa lean and she was pretty. I remembered catching myself thinking..."Some nerve...is she here to pick up a man? Why would she wear something like that to go grocery shopping on a Sunday afternoon? She probably wants to attract men- wants them to notice her.Is my husband tempted to look at her?"
In my innnermost parts, I was judging her...without knowing her. Isn't that what prejudice or pre judging means? We judge someone or something before we know anything about them?
I guess I am not as diverse as I would like to be.
I would hope that at some point in my life another person wasn't judging me just based on what I was wearing....
But then there is the story that a good friend shared with me once she got to know me better about how she had judged us based on what my kids were wearing!
He said, "Everyone has been prejudice at one time about something." I was sitting there thinking, "No. No. I don't believe have been prejudice. I love culture, understanding various religions, differences in people..."
He also asked us how we would feel if our child brought home a boyfriend or girlfriend of a different race. Again, I thought, "I would really be fine with that!"
Then it hit me...this feeling in my gut that said, "You judge people sometimes." I was sitting there fighting that "inner voice" .... "DO I?"
Then into my mind came the thoughts I had had just the day before at the store with my husband standing there with me when I saw a girl with very short daisy duke shorts and a long sweater that almost made me wonder if she had shorts on, and a pair of high heels. She was young, she wa lean and she was pretty. I remembered catching myself thinking..."Some nerve...is she here to pick up a man? Why would she wear something like that to go grocery shopping on a Sunday afternoon? She probably wants to attract men- wants them to notice her.Is my husband tempted to look at her?"
In my innnermost parts, I was judging her...without knowing her. Isn't that what prejudice or pre judging means? We judge someone or something before we know anything about them?
I guess I am not as diverse as I would like to be.
I would hope that at some point in my life another person wasn't judging me just based on what I was wearing....
But then there is the story that a good friend shared with me once she got to know me better about how she had judged us based on what my kids were wearing!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Living Here and Now
I have been learning a lesson for a little over a year...a gradual process that has been leading to gradual change in my life.
As I said, I am "planner" by nature....or maybe it was learned...or maybe it was some of both! Whatever the case, I believe this is a strength in many ways as I can look ahead and be prepared and have options and really get things accomplished! I also have realized that it can be one of my hugest weaknesses!
You see, sometimes I can get so busy planning, that I am not living in the moment. I can miss so much when I am not paying enough attention to what is happening right now- and who is in front of me right now.
The Bible is clear-- "This is the day the Lord has made- rejoice and be glad in it!" How can I rejoice and be glad about today, when I am not even paying attention to it!? How can I truly be "in it" when my mind id somewhere days or weeks or even months away?
Also, we see God as ever-present. He is the Great "I Am". If He is present each moment and I am created in His image, I imagine I need to try to be present each moment, too.
Now, I am not saying God isn't a planner...I think He is. "I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord..." I just think in His perfection- He does not struggle with balancing His planning and living in the moment. I do. I am not perfect.
He has really been helping me with this. One way He has helped is by putting friends and a husband in my life who are more of the "Moment by moment" kind of people. I learn a lot from them as I see them just living....
As I said, I am "planner" by nature....or maybe it was learned...or maybe it was some of both! Whatever the case, I believe this is a strength in many ways as I can look ahead and be prepared and have options and really get things accomplished! I also have realized that it can be one of my hugest weaknesses!
You see, sometimes I can get so busy planning, that I am not living in the moment. I can miss so much when I am not paying enough attention to what is happening right now- and who is in front of me right now.
The Bible is clear-- "This is the day the Lord has made- rejoice and be glad in it!" How can I rejoice and be glad about today, when I am not even paying attention to it!? How can I truly be "in it" when my mind id somewhere days or weeks or even months away?
Also, we see God as ever-present. He is the Great "I Am". If He is present each moment and I am created in His image, I imagine I need to try to be present each moment, too.
Now, I am not saying God isn't a planner...I think He is. "I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord..." I just think in His perfection- He does not struggle with balancing His planning and living in the moment. I do. I am not perfect.
He has really been helping me with this. One way He has helped is by putting friends and a husband in my life who are more of the "Moment by moment" kind of people. I learn a lot from them as I see them just living....
Monday, October 6, 2008
What am I doing here?
This is a question that I have asked many times in my life and I have heard many people ask.
What am I doing here?
Well, I am not "there" yet, but I am coming to the conclusion that I am here simply because I am His. This may sound absurd, but in reality, I was created by a higher power than myself and if I was created, then the creator must have a purpose or plan for me. I am not my own.
Check it out...
think of a project or a piece of art you came up with. Even as a child if you think you aren't creative now! (Topic for another day- I think everyone is creative!) I have made pictures...drawings, paintings, clay sculptures, written poetry, made a plan for the day or week or month (another topic for another time- planning can be a gift and a curse!)
Anyway, everything I have ever created has served a purpose. It was something I was working on as a gift for someone, it was helping me pass the time, it was helping me express myself, it was making sure something would happen...or come close to happening as planned....
I think if you think about it, you will find reason behind what you do, too. Maybe you are not an "artist" as one might normally think of an artist. Maybe you are planning family meals, or a course of study at school, or how to best get that project done at work....whatever it may be, there is a purpose behind what you are working on or have worked on.
Can you see the analogy...? God created you and me and He has a purpose or a plan -- a reason for our existence.
I guess what I hope to continue working through here in this blog is how for me it seems God is saying, "I made you merely for Myself...you are simply Mine." If that is the answer I seem to be getting to this question myself, maybe it will help someone else searching for the answer to the same question.....
What am I doing here?
Well, I am not "there" yet, but I am coming to the conclusion that I am here simply because I am His. This may sound absurd, but in reality, I was created by a higher power than myself and if I was created, then the creator must have a purpose or plan for me. I am not my own.
Check it out...
think of a project or a piece of art you came up with. Even as a child if you think you aren't creative now! (Topic for another day- I think everyone is creative!) I have made pictures...drawings, paintings, clay sculptures, written poetry, made a plan for the day or week or month (another topic for another time- planning can be a gift and a curse!)
Anyway, everything I have ever created has served a purpose. It was something I was working on as a gift for someone, it was helping me pass the time, it was helping me express myself, it was making sure something would happen...or come close to happening as planned....
I think if you think about it, you will find reason behind what you do, too. Maybe you are not an "artist" as one might normally think of an artist. Maybe you are planning family meals, or a course of study at school, or how to best get that project done at work....whatever it may be, there is a purpose behind what you are working on or have worked on.
Can you see the analogy...? God created you and me and He has a purpose or a plan -- a reason for our existence.
I guess what I hope to continue working through here in this blog is how for me it seems God is saying, "I made you merely for Myself...you are simply Mine." If that is the answer I seem to be getting to this question myself, maybe it will help someone else searching for the answer to the same question.....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)