The moon is ethereal tonight. Driving home after watching LOST with some friends, my gaze was constantly drawn to the brilliance of the glowing orb. I have a sneaking suspicion that the percentage of auto accidents rise drastically on full-moon evenings. That is, if all drivers are like me. The moon stole my attention for most of the trip and it's a small wonder I didn't plow into a tree, lamp post, racoon, or any other major object as a result.
I'm glad the moon isn't full every night or my amazement might wear off. Let me rephrase that. My amazement WOULD wear off. I live in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I hold a front row seat to a magnificent mountain display, but I will sadly admit that I don't consciously marvel at its beauty anymore like I once did. It's not that I am completely apathetic to its beauty, but I just don't drool over it as much as I did at first. Humans are like that. They simply get desensitized and familiarized.
As Easter approaches, I am contemplating my love for Christ. Have I allowed my heart to become too familiarized with my walk with Him? Has my adoration and appreciation of His saving grace in my life grown lacluster due to the passage of time? The answer is, at times, yes.
My prayer this Easter is that I would continue to cultivate a deeper sense of reverance, awe, and thankfulness regarding my Savior. My petition is that, unlike my wavering admiration of the moon and mountains, my heart would steadily grow into a deeper love for and worship of Him. He has conquered the grave and freely offers new life to those who believe. Unfathomable Love. May I never cease to be amazed.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Subtract the Abstract
A few weekends ago, my brother and I trekked through treacherous snowy roads up to Steamboat Springs for a brief getaway. We met up with our folks as well as some extended family and were treated to a complimentary ski-in condo for the weekend. The skiing I experienced while there was nonpareil.
One of my favorite things to observe on ski slopes is the occasional little kid that is decked out in ski gear and can be seen cruising down the mountain or waddling around in the lodge. I'm referring to the tiny, tiny ones that probably just learned to walk last year. They are somewhat rare, but when they do appear, I always want to ooh and ahh over them.
Late in the afternoon during our ski day at Steamboat, our crew had to go back to the main lodge so my Dad could check on something. While my brother, cousin, and I hung out by the gondola waiting for Pop's return, I spotted a little toddler skier teetering after his father. After crooning about how cute he was to my brother (which I'm sure he appreciated), I then began to think about things on a deeper level.
Nobody can argue that learning to ski as an adult is difficult. Come to think of it, learning anything new as an adult is quite challenging when compared to learning that same thing as a child. Science can provide many research-backed answers as to why the adult brain resists taking on new skills. While those scientific studies are fascinating and true, I believe there is another reason why adults lose the ability to quickly soak in new things: abstract thinking.
Abstract thinking is foreign to children. This is why the adults in their life are so formative in their development. Children constantly appeal to the adults in their lives to make sense of their world. Though they may tirelessly ask the qustion "Why?", they easily absorb the answers to their questions without picking apart the answer in their brain. So-and-so said such-and-such and that is that. Thus makes up the beauty that is the childlike brain.
As my eyes followed the little guy at the lodge trailing behind his father, obviously a bit hindered by ski boots (who's not?) and a bulky coat, I contemplated how he must have a huge trust in his dad. Perhaps he had some fear of going down the slopes, but being the child that he was, he had not the capacity to over-analyze the situation. If Dad says I'm going down the slopes, I guess I'm going down the slopes. I could almost hear his thought process, not hard to imagine since I can remember having that childlike mode once too.
Though abstract reasoning is a gift and presents a more multi-colored pallette to life, it can often be a hindrance. An adult learning to ski will often kill the experience with hyper-awareness and vigilance. What if...? I don't think I can... This is dangerous... I can well hear those thoughts too. I experience them daily in one way or the other.
As I chewed on these ideas, I mentioned them to my brother. We discussed how abstract thought can ironically hinder progress. Do you ever discuss something that may not be revolutionary to the world in general but it is to you? This conversation was just such a brainstorm.
I went back to my own thoughts at that point and pondered how Jesus encouraged people to receive him as little children would (Luke 18:17). Why does He say this? Because He understands that higher-level thinking often prevents folks from coming to Him. He thus promotes childlike thinking and childlike faith. He asks people to trust Him as the little skier trusted his dad. Once again, not a new concept, but worth repeating for sure.
What sane adult would go to the top of a steep hill covered in snow, strap two long boards onto his feet, and point them downhill? What sane adult would surrender self, believe that there is a loving Creator who will forgive his sins, and then give his life to this unseen God in order to have a relationship with Him? Answer: the sane adult who takes on childlike faith.
I am not proposing that abstract thought is evil or should be thrown out. God has surely granted man the ability to think wonderfully deep and rich thoughts. God himself thinks higher than we can even imagine (Isaiah 55:9). Instead, I am suggesting that it is a powerful thing to learn to temper reasoning with childlike faith and trust.
Those who are in the death-grip of higher thinking will never experience some of life's greatest joys. Their reasoning abilities will gladly stifle it all. This is sad on an earthly level. This is tragic on a spiritual level. I hope that all will take on childlike faith and turn to Christ. I hope that all will have the courage to subtract the abstract.
One of my favorite things to observe on ski slopes is the occasional little kid that is decked out in ski gear and can be seen cruising down the mountain or waddling around in the lodge. I'm referring to the tiny, tiny ones that probably just learned to walk last year. They are somewhat rare, but when they do appear, I always want to ooh and ahh over them.
Late in the afternoon during our ski day at Steamboat, our crew had to go back to the main lodge so my Dad could check on something. While my brother, cousin, and I hung out by the gondola waiting for Pop's return, I spotted a little toddler skier teetering after his father. After crooning about how cute he was to my brother (which I'm sure he appreciated), I then began to think about things on a deeper level.
Nobody can argue that learning to ski as an adult is difficult. Come to think of it, learning anything new as an adult is quite challenging when compared to learning that same thing as a child. Science can provide many research-backed answers as to why the adult brain resists taking on new skills. While those scientific studies are fascinating and true, I believe there is another reason why adults lose the ability to quickly soak in new things: abstract thinking.
Abstract thinking is foreign to children. This is why the adults in their life are so formative in their development. Children constantly appeal to the adults in their lives to make sense of their world. Though they may tirelessly ask the qustion "Why?", they easily absorb the answers to their questions without picking apart the answer in their brain. So-and-so said such-and-such and that is that. Thus makes up the beauty that is the childlike brain.
As my eyes followed the little guy at the lodge trailing behind his father, obviously a bit hindered by ski boots (who's not?) and a bulky coat, I contemplated how he must have a huge trust in his dad. Perhaps he had some fear of going down the slopes, but being the child that he was, he had not the capacity to over-analyze the situation. If Dad says I'm going down the slopes, I guess I'm going down the slopes. I could almost hear his thought process, not hard to imagine since I can remember having that childlike mode once too.
Though abstract reasoning is a gift and presents a more multi-colored pallette to life, it can often be a hindrance. An adult learning to ski will often kill the experience with hyper-awareness and vigilance. What if...? I don't think I can... This is dangerous... I can well hear those thoughts too. I experience them daily in one way or the other.
As I chewed on these ideas, I mentioned them to my brother. We discussed how abstract thought can ironically hinder progress. Do you ever discuss something that may not be revolutionary to the world in general but it is to you? This conversation was just such a brainstorm.
I went back to my own thoughts at that point and pondered how Jesus encouraged people to receive him as little children would (Luke 18:17). Why does He say this? Because He understands that higher-level thinking often prevents folks from coming to Him. He thus promotes childlike thinking and childlike faith. He asks people to trust Him as the little skier trusted his dad. Once again, not a new concept, but worth repeating for sure.
What sane adult would go to the top of a steep hill covered in snow, strap two long boards onto his feet, and point them downhill? What sane adult would surrender self, believe that there is a loving Creator who will forgive his sins, and then give his life to this unseen God in order to have a relationship with Him? Answer: the sane adult who takes on childlike faith.
I am not proposing that abstract thought is evil or should be thrown out. God has surely granted man the ability to think wonderfully deep and rich thoughts. God himself thinks higher than we can even imagine (Isaiah 55:9). Instead, I am suggesting that it is a powerful thing to learn to temper reasoning with childlike faith and trust.
Those who are in the death-grip of higher thinking will never experience some of life's greatest joys. Their reasoning abilities will gladly stifle it all. This is sad on an earthly level. This is tragic on a spiritual level. I hope that all will take on childlike faith and turn to Christ. I hope that all will have the courage to subtract the abstract.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
A Risk Too Big?
Fluffy snow is falling. Well, it falls only to get whipped around by the wind before finding a landing spot. Poor snow.
As the physical world is transforming into albino-land, the very cultural and social landscape of our country is undergoing its own makeover. Extreme emotion and even hysteria have surrounded the whole health-care narrative, as well they should have. No change so monumental ought to transpire with a mere shrug of the shoulders or yawn of complacency. History has witnessed one chapter of this saga draw to a close today, and the ending has left the readers deeply divided.
What will be the outcome of Chapter One? One can hardly predict. Critics from both sides proclaim with adroit conviction that they are sure of this or that about how the future will unfold based on the passing of this gargantuan bill. Do any of them know with certainty that what they prophesy is inerrant? No. There's no way any of us can know exactly what's coming next. The scope and muddled nature of the bill don't allow for it.
"Is she not taking a side on this issue?" If that be your thought right now, let me assure you that I have. I am not a fan of the health-care reform bill (or whatever it's technical name is now). I could give you many reasons why, but that is not the point of this soliloquy.
Here, instead, is the moral of this post: The bigger the change, the more unpredictable the outcome. Perhaps this maxim doesn't hold true in all of life, but I submit that it does in general.
Consider the follwing scenario: If I decide to move to a new location within Colorado Springs, that would be a change and would require transition. Yet, I could decently predict what the transition would entail and could therefore prepare myself well for said change. If, on the other hand, I decide to move to Africa, change my name, and switch from being a teacher to being a nurse...all at once...it would be hard for me to predict what kind of impact so many transitions at once would have on my life.
In the same way, I believe that this health-care bill is so weighted by changes to the status quo, be they small or large, that it makes the bill reckless simply because the outcome of it all will be that much more unpredictable. Leave arguments of ideology aside. On simple logistical terms, the move seems highly risky.
Let it be known that I understand the health-care crisis. I don't believe there is an easy answer and reform of some kind is needed. Yet, I fear that going to the races and gambling away a huge chunk of money in the name of being better off is not the way to lead a responsible life.
May God guide the leaders of this great country. I pray that if this bill stands, the outcome will be far different than what I now foresee. While I pray and consider my role in this all, I will continue to thank God for His continued blessings in my life. Tonight, I will thank Him for the snow.
As the physical world is transforming into albino-land, the very cultural and social landscape of our country is undergoing its own makeover. Extreme emotion and even hysteria have surrounded the whole health-care narrative, as well they should have. No change so monumental ought to transpire with a mere shrug of the shoulders or yawn of complacency. History has witnessed one chapter of this saga draw to a close today, and the ending has left the readers deeply divided.
What will be the outcome of Chapter One? One can hardly predict. Critics from both sides proclaim with adroit conviction that they are sure of this or that about how the future will unfold based on the passing of this gargantuan bill. Do any of them know with certainty that what they prophesy is inerrant? No. There's no way any of us can know exactly what's coming next. The scope and muddled nature of the bill don't allow for it.
"Is she not taking a side on this issue?" If that be your thought right now, let me assure you that I have. I am not a fan of the health-care reform bill (or whatever it's technical name is now). I could give you many reasons why, but that is not the point of this soliloquy.
Here, instead, is the moral of this post: The bigger the change, the more unpredictable the outcome. Perhaps this maxim doesn't hold true in all of life, but I submit that it does in general.
Consider the follwing scenario: If I decide to move to a new location within Colorado Springs, that would be a change and would require transition. Yet, I could decently predict what the transition would entail and could therefore prepare myself well for said change. If, on the other hand, I decide to move to Africa, change my name, and switch from being a teacher to being a nurse...all at once...it would be hard for me to predict what kind of impact so many transitions at once would have on my life.
In the same way, I believe that this health-care bill is so weighted by changes to the status quo, be they small or large, that it makes the bill reckless simply because the outcome of it all will be that much more unpredictable. Leave arguments of ideology aside. On simple logistical terms, the move seems highly risky.
Let it be known that I understand the health-care crisis. I don't believe there is an easy answer and reform of some kind is needed. Yet, I fear that going to the races and gambling away a huge chunk of money in the name of being better off is not the way to lead a responsible life.
May God guide the leaders of this great country. I pray that if this bill stands, the outcome will be far different than what I now foresee. While I pray and consider my role in this all, I will continue to thank God for His continued blessings in my life. Tonight, I will thank Him for the snow.
Monday, March 15, 2010
To Be or Not To Be...Intense
Here is a noteworthy fact about me: I am intense. In fact, my whole family is intense. Growing up, this truth often manifested itself in hilarious ways. For example, anytime the whole clan was in a vehicle together, the volume of conversation would continually rise until we were practically shouting...not because we were angry, but because we are all intense and verbose folks who usually feel the need to give our input and be heard.
We were that family that rarely had a quiet dinner table...someone always had something to say. To this day, I marvel at those families I see at restaurants sitting in complete silence for the whole meal. When observing such a thing, I am curious beyond belief. To me, such a minimal communication style is foreign.
There were also times when our intensity as a family ignited sparks. Sparks of frustration, anger, or turmoil with each other or with circumstances. Sparks of restlessness or passion or fear. Sparks of many kinds. Intensity can be exhausting and I've seen that first-hand many a time. Though I am often proud of my intense nature because I see it as a strong motivator, time has taught me that such a posture in life can be very debilitating.
As a Christ-follower, my intensity gets me into trouble. Too often, I try to manage things in my life on my own because I have not the patience nor the faith to trust God with what I deem necessary to figure out right now. What a mistake. When my disposition hinders my faith, that is serious for "without faith it is impossible to please God" (Heb. 11:6). Impossible is a strong word.
Lately, I have been contemplating the way my personality factors into how I approach my life. God created my intense nature and the drive I feel within, but He desires to use that nature for His glory. In times past, when I have felt the destructive nature of my passions while in my own grip, I have observed more laid-back people in my life and envied their disposition. Why can't I be more like her? She is trusting, relaxed, and relatively stress-free. That would be nice. Willing it to be so, I would then procede to muscle myself into being relaxed. What? Hello, Oxymoron Woman.
How about this? How about accepting and loving myself in a Biblical way? How about realizing that God wants to redeem even the broken aspects of my intensity and channel every ounce of my passion and drive into work for His Kingdom? What does that require? Surrender...and that is something with which an intense person struggles.
What a beautiful thing it is and will be when I surrender to Christ in full! No need to give my disposition a makeover. I need only to abide in Christ and allow Him to work through me. What a relief to know that I don't have to be someone I am naturally not! God even created intense people; may I then be intensely surrendered to Him.
We were that family that rarely had a quiet dinner table...someone always had something to say. To this day, I marvel at those families I see at restaurants sitting in complete silence for the whole meal. When observing such a thing, I am curious beyond belief. To me, such a minimal communication style is foreign.
There were also times when our intensity as a family ignited sparks. Sparks of frustration, anger, or turmoil with each other or with circumstances. Sparks of restlessness or passion or fear. Sparks of many kinds. Intensity can be exhausting and I've seen that first-hand many a time. Though I am often proud of my intense nature because I see it as a strong motivator, time has taught me that such a posture in life can be very debilitating.
As a Christ-follower, my intensity gets me into trouble. Too often, I try to manage things in my life on my own because I have not the patience nor the faith to trust God with what I deem necessary to figure out right now. What a mistake. When my disposition hinders my faith, that is serious for "without faith it is impossible to please God" (Heb. 11:6). Impossible is a strong word.
Lately, I have been contemplating the way my personality factors into how I approach my life. God created my intense nature and the drive I feel within, but He desires to use that nature for His glory. In times past, when I have felt the destructive nature of my passions while in my own grip, I have observed more laid-back people in my life and envied their disposition. Why can't I be more like her? She is trusting, relaxed, and relatively stress-free. That would be nice. Willing it to be so, I would then procede to muscle myself into being relaxed. What? Hello, Oxymoron Woman.
How about this? How about accepting and loving myself in a Biblical way? How about realizing that God wants to redeem even the broken aspects of my intensity and channel every ounce of my passion and drive into work for His Kingdom? What does that require? Surrender...and that is something with which an intense person struggles.
What a beautiful thing it is and will be when I surrender to Christ in full! No need to give my disposition a makeover. I need only to abide in Christ and allow Him to work through me. What a relief to know that I don't have to be someone I am naturally not! God even created intense people; may I then be intensely surrendered to Him.
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