This dirty laundry theme has come and gone with me over the past several years of having kids. I have one daughter in particular who has always been in the business of trying to hide her dirty laundry in the simplest and truest form. When she was a bit younger, I would find dirty clothes hidden in her drawers, or pushed inside her closet. Now that she is older- they lay on the other side of the bed- the side we don't see when we just walk or look in. But, there they are on the floor in quite a pile! I tell her that in order for them to be cleaned, she needs to put them in the laundry basket. If they stay hidden- they will remain dirty!
For whatever reason, whenever I have found her hidden dirty laundry, I get this picture - this message in my head- about how normal and similar all of this is when I compare it with myself and those around me. It may not be dirty laundry in it's most literal form, but we do try to hide the deep, dark, not so wonderful things in our lives a lot of the time.
At least I know I have - and I do.
This leads me into asking the big question...."WHY?".
Perhaps it is because we are afraid if someone found out they might have a not so desireable opinion of us- they may not want to be our friends anymore, they might leave us for good, or we might end up being held accountable and know that since we are comfortable in the place we are - doing what we are doing- we would much rather just stay there.
Whatever the case, whether we choose to put our dirty laundry into the clothes basket or not-- which is where it should go if we would like to have it cleaned up- we have to realize that the one opinion that REALLY matters most is that of God. He is the one who judges us, and ironically, He already knows about all of it- so why try to hide it?!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Road Called Christianity
The pastor of the church my family attends recently wrote a book. It is called- The Forgotten Way of Jesus. My husband and I are in our third week of reading this book and discussing it with a small group of people at the church office once a week.
I have felt such joy reading this book- as so far, it has clearly worded some feelings and some thoughts I have had on my own journey down this road called Christianity....
In one chapter of the book there are several paragraphs that talk about the way a "Christian" is portrayed. I feel that during my life I have both, acted the part myself, and seen the part played out by others in each instance. One example is the Christian that views salvation as the heart of Christianity- you know- say the prayer and accept Jesus as savior. Another is the very religious Christian. I am certain you know of this one, too. The one that goes to church at a set time each week, reads the Bible daily, follows procedures and prayers mindlessly at times - more out of habit. Then there is the Christian outlook that says there is a moral coad to live by and this is what it is and it defines an individual. And lastly, the Christian outlook that some might refer to as name it claim it. The thinking here is that God is all pwerful and if I am loving Him and following Him, He is going to make everything go my way.
Sadly, Jesus represents so much more than just any one of these things and some of these things are just way off base if you look at the Jesus that was written about in the Gospels. Is it any wonder that we, Christians are turning people off when we are telling them they have to follow a code to be in our club, that the prayer of salvation is the end all be all of our relationship with God, that they must religiously and mindlessly follow along with the traditions we have in place, or when we sell them on not having anymore troubles and trials when they follow Jesus-- only to realize that they will still have trials and tribulations?
This book has got me thinking more deeply than I have in a long time about my own journey. This book is helping me to get why so many times, I have felt apprehensive and chosen other paths when someone tried to sell me on one of these roads....
It has also helped me to see how sometimes I have bought in to these different avenues and how, in the end, I was left feeling an emptiness, a confusion, or disillusioned.
I am looking forward to the weeks ahead - this is a turning point in my life- I know that for sure...I am excited to see where the road leads me next!
I have felt such joy reading this book- as so far, it has clearly worded some feelings and some thoughts I have had on my own journey down this road called Christianity....
In one chapter of the book there are several paragraphs that talk about the way a "Christian" is portrayed. I feel that during my life I have both, acted the part myself, and seen the part played out by others in each instance. One example is the Christian that views salvation as the heart of Christianity- you know- say the prayer and accept Jesus as savior. Another is the very religious Christian. I am certain you know of this one, too. The one that goes to church at a set time each week, reads the Bible daily, follows procedures and prayers mindlessly at times - more out of habit. Then there is the Christian outlook that says there is a moral coad to live by and this is what it is and it defines an individual. And lastly, the Christian outlook that some might refer to as name it claim it. The thinking here is that God is all pwerful and if I am loving Him and following Him, He is going to make everything go my way.
Sadly, Jesus represents so much more than just any one of these things and some of these things are just way off base if you look at the Jesus that was written about in the Gospels. Is it any wonder that we, Christians are turning people off when we are telling them they have to follow a code to be in our club, that the prayer of salvation is the end all be all of our relationship with God, that they must religiously and mindlessly follow along with the traditions we have in place, or when we sell them on not having anymore troubles and trials when they follow Jesus-- only to realize that they will still have trials and tribulations?
This book has got me thinking more deeply than I have in a long time about my own journey. This book is helping me to get why so many times, I have felt apprehensive and chosen other paths when someone tried to sell me on one of these roads....
It has also helped me to see how sometimes I have bought in to these different avenues and how, in the end, I was left feeling an emptiness, a confusion, or disillusioned.
I am looking forward to the weeks ahead - this is a turning point in my life- I know that for sure...I am excited to see where the road leads me next!
Like a Child
I have been so busy...so busy. There has barely been time to sit down and breathe. Interesting, because that is exactly what the exchange student living with us says to me as she watches me running around taking my children to this place, helping with that activity, watching them participate in one thing and coaching another. She simply looks at me, smiles and says, "Breathe, Callico...." with her sweet Italian accent!
And, just over the past few days I have taken some time to just sit, to just be home, to just cuddle up on the couch with one of the amazing people in my house whom I love dearly.
The first one was my third daughter. It was the day after her 11th birthday party. She sat on my lap and we watched my favorite football team play and win a game! I thought to myself, how relaxing! How fulfilling- just sitting here and enjoying her and even without words!
Then, last night my oldest daughter- the teenager- she sat across from me on the other end of the couch. I had to ask her several times if she wanted to cuddle- you know, she felt too old....I told her she would never be too old to sit close to her mom and just hang out. Eventually she came over and put her head in my lap and within minutes she was asking me to rub her back and then we just sat still, watching a movie together.
Right now as I write this- my second daughter- the preteen- is laying her head on my lap and being close to her is a joy and is also relaxing. I wasn't even realizing how much I missed this kind of time with my kids!
Sometimes, I can get so caught up in the busyness of life- in the doing for- that I forget about the just being with. Merely spending time together....THAT is so important!
Now, my youngest child, she gets it! She is not old enough to feel like she has to be cool and not cuddle- she does not care where she is or what she is doing or who is around- she always gets the importance of just spending time together! We can be anywhere doing anything and she hops over and holds my hand or sits on my lap, or walks over and puts her arms around me and just hangs out.
This all reminds me of my own journey- God is like my perfect parent- always there- at every activity, every turn, every event, in the busyness and in the quiet....I just need to be aware of this and remember that no matter where I am, what I am doing, watching, playing... I can reach out to Him and spend time with Him. I also am reminded how nice it is to just put everything aside sometimes and just be with Him...I will never be too old, too cool, or too busy to spend time with Him. But, sometimes, it is important to take the time to just cuddle up and relax with Him.
And, just over the past few days I have taken some time to just sit, to just be home, to just cuddle up on the couch with one of the amazing people in my house whom I love dearly.
The first one was my third daughter. It was the day after her 11th birthday party. She sat on my lap and we watched my favorite football team play and win a game! I thought to myself, how relaxing! How fulfilling- just sitting here and enjoying her and even without words!
Then, last night my oldest daughter- the teenager- she sat across from me on the other end of the couch. I had to ask her several times if she wanted to cuddle- you know, she felt too old....I told her she would never be too old to sit close to her mom and just hang out. Eventually she came over and put her head in my lap and within minutes she was asking me to rub her back and then we just sat still, watching a movie together.
Right now as I write this- my second daughter- the preteen- is laying her head on my lap and being close to her is a joy and is also relaxing. I wasn't even realizing how much I missed this kind of time with my kids!
Sometimes, I can get so caught up in the busyness of life- in the doing for- that I forget about the just being with. Merely spending time together....THAT is so important!
Now, my youngest child, she gets it! She is not old enough to feel like she has to be cool and not cuddle- she does not care where she is or what she is doing or who is around- she always gets the importance of just spending time together! We can be anywhere doing anything and she hops over and holds my hand or sits on my lap, or walks over and puts her arms around me and just hangs out.
This all reminds me of my own journey- God is like my perfect parent- always there- at every activity, every turn, every event, in the busyness and in the quiet....I just need to be aware of this and remember that no matter where I am, what I am doing, watching, playing... I can reach out to Him and spend time with Him. I also am reminded how nice it is to just put everything aside sometimes and just be with Him...I will never be too old, too cool, or too busy to spend time with Him. But, sometimes, it is important to take the time to just cuddle up and relax with Him.
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