On Faces

I find it interesting, and a little hilarious, that I cannot see my own face without outside help.  

I remember the first time I really realized the significance of not being able to see my own face. I was at Summit Ministries in Dayton, Tennessee, the summer of 2007. The topic my small group was discussing somehow went way off track, and we ended up talking about bathrooms for some reason. My small group leader mentioned that he might go in the bathroom, simply to see if he had any foreign objects on his face. As the discussion went on, my mind stayed with that off-handed comment. 

Bare with this little tangent for a moment.  My small group leader needed to use an outside source (the mirror) to see if there was anything that didn't belong on one of the most distinct things about him (his face). Surely, if there was one part of our bodies that it would make sense for us to be able to see, it would be our face. 

But here we are, our over-developed acne, the bit of mayonnaise and the running mascara, all out of our view. Surely we are unaware of these hideous blemishes which shout their presence to all who have eyes. Because we are unaware, we do nothing about them. They stay there, for all the world to see; as we continue on in our self-confidence, unaware that anything is wrong. 

The reason that I found this off-handed comment so interesting is what it might reflect about our human nature. Is it possible that the most distinct features and the characteristics by which others know us are hidden from our view without the help of an outside source to see them?  If the most obvious thing about us also happens to be our biggest blind spot, then we most certainly need to be in community with other people.   

There is no doubt in my mind that we were created to be in community - to need other people to function as a whole person.  

In the first chapter of James, the author uses this example when talking about being a doer of the word, and not just a hearer. It says: 
“…he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.” 

Guest Post - Kirsten Richardson

When Stephen first approached me, asking if I was interested in guest posting for him (and vice versa…stay tuned for his guest appearance on my blog), I was excited at the opportunity.  Then he sent me a prompt: “Knowing and seeking Christ in the quiet.” I deflated slightly, as the enormity of the subject sank in. Nevertheless, I've accepted the challenge and will share a few thoughts with you.

The past two years influenced me more spiritually than any other time in my life. I experienced times of busyness, and my spiritual escape was secluding myself with my journal, bible, and Pandora or Vimeo. My soul received rejuvenation while thinking, praying, and processing to God without a time constraint.

Personality is irrelevant when spending time with Christ. Yes, our individual characteristics will influence the ways we connect spiritually, worship publicly and privately, and relate to God. But, sitting with God, being still and connecting with Him, is a Biblical instruction.

Psalm 46:10 is the cliché “be still” verse. Jesus tells Martha to relax and points out that sitting at his feet is more important that having the perfect meal (ouch…as a natural planner, I just felt that one as I wrote it). We have the examples of Jesus spending time with the Father in quiet, away from the noise of life and the distraction of His disciples.

I experience more growth while talking with one friend than when I spend time with five. 

The same happens with Jesus. When I spend quiet time with Him, whether in the early morning hours, late at night, in the car, or some other place, I grow more than when I am in a noisy environment, catered to a large group.

The quiet is when I cry out, scribble pages, and wrestle. Sometimes it is peaceful, other times it is exhausting. Regardless, when I resume my tasks, I feel a peace and restoration.

Disagreements Interest Me

Disagreements interest me.

This post is similar to a previous post of mine - which you should refer to for more depth if you are concerned with my logic.

I think disagreements tell me what you hold to be valuable.  Though – the person who refuses to disagree with anyone and the person who insists on disagreeing with everyone both believe nothing of interest to me.  I do not say that they believe nothing – but that whatever it is that they believe, simply disinterests me. 

So, ignoring what disinterests me, let us turn our attention to those who choose their disagreements – whether consciously or instinctually.

It seems that any argument can be made to have high stakes, whether or not it actually does.  Forgive me if this is your particular pet debate, but I’m going to use it as an example. 

• It can be said that if free will were the way that Christian salvation occurs, this negates God’s divine plan, and leaves him waiting in heaven, wringing His hands (metaphorically) hoping that mankind accepts the gift He has offered.

• The other side says that if predestination were the way that Christian salvation occurs, this leaves mankind as robots, controlled by the impersonal marionette strings of a deity unconcerned with our choices. 

What I think is that both sides have charged up the high stakes of their argument so that if you disagree with their side, the consequences are astronomical.  This can be done with virtually anything.  Unless you believe this one particular way, it means (x) which means (x) which means the nature of God has changed. 

All of these assume that unless these questions are answered sufficiently, the world has fallen apart.  Let me assure you – the world rests on Christ, and on nothing else.  As believers, we firmly stand united that salvation is provided by Christ.  Rather than argue about the mysterious method by which Christ has come to save us, let each of us apply ourselves to loving each other and obeying God. 

I have known of very few people who have ever been argued or debated into the kingdom of God.  But I have known many, countless masses, which have been loved into the kingdom of God – myself included.  If you are faced with the choice to either argue with someone over the minutia of the way by which God has come to save us or to love that person and meet them where they are – I urge you to choose the latter.    

Rest: Our Response to The Beautiful

If insomnia were a character quality, I would be venerated on the spot. 

I do feel fortunate, though, that my particular flavor of insomnia only strikes when I have some kind of idea which I am excited to flesh out.  This means that as far as long, lonely nights go, mine are fairly productive.  Insomnia is my response to the curious.

Sleep is an interesting idea, spiritually speaking.  We are no doubt familiar with the concept of rest and how that is something God wants us to do – no doubt, for our own good.  Those two must not be exclusively the same since one can have a restless sleep and a restful experience while fully awake.

This reminds me of an experience Caroline and I had in a museum in St Augustine.  We were wandering around the city, with nothing in particular to do, and we poked our heads into a small art museum.  I cannot tell you why, because art has so rarely affected me in any significant way, but Caroline and I were moved to silence by this art.  We stayed in this small shop for close to two hours, looking at each piece by an artist I cannot now recall.  Two hours we marveled in the face of the beautiful.  When we walked out of that small shop, and were reborn into the street of St. Augustine, I took a deep breath of the hot afternoon air, and felt like I had just woken up from a long and restful sleep. 

One of my favorite words is “insatiable,” because it has a driving sense of internal thirst for something.  I often feel this driving thirst, and I think it is this thirst that keeps me awake at nights.  It is my curiosity monkey that will not leave me alone.  But when we walked out of that museum, we were satiated – full and content.

To rest is to relax every muscle in your mind and come to rest in the eye of a storm, momentarily knowing that it is okay. 

I think rest is our response to the beautiful.  This may be why God gave us beautiful Sunday afternoons to take a picnic somewhere, or sit at the beach, or walk in the woods.  I think He likes it when we experience rest as a response to His beauty.  Our greatest rest, of course, comes gradually, as we see more and more of Him.