Sunday, September 26, 2010

Touch

When I decided to write this blog, I knew that it would be difficult to express the thoughts rattling around in my brain without sounding completely insane. After a long time contemplating, I realized that no matter how eloquently I explained myself, I will still come across as someone who is completely insane. So....here goes.





This summer I started watching the tv show LOST (Before everybody starts commenting on this telling me spoilers, I have yet to finish the show, keep your opinions and thoughts on it to yourself!). This weekend, I watched the season five finale, meaning that I only have one more season to complete before I can join the ranks of people who have seen all of the show. I fully expected to watch this episode, allow my mind to get completely boggled, and then carry on with my quest to find Season Six. Instead, God spoke to my heart during the episode and presented a new concept in my mind through an event of the episode.



In the beginning of the episode, we finally see Jacob: a timeless character who seems to simply observe all the goings on of the island. As the episode progressed, different flashbacks of each character's life were shown. Each flashback featured a significant, life-altering event in the individual character, and, in each event...Jacob was present.


As a disclaimer before I explain further, I have not finished the show. For all I know, the character that I am discussing could turn out to be a monster or an alien or anything else crazy that comes up in Lost. But seeing him in this episode caused my mind to hit upon a truth so simple and so powerful that I was brought to tears at the thought. This tiny picture of a television character made me realize the significance of God's presence in our lives. I mean, we are told that God is always there, but getting a visual of a caring, powerful, Father-like figure ever at our sides was the most beautiful thing I had ever thought upon. The beauty lies in the fact that this visual is completely true: He has been actively in my life from the moment of my conception. He has been there to celebrate when I win, been there to cry with me when my heart feels broken. Been there to lavish me in love over and over again, even when I don't deserve that type of unfailing adoration from an almighty Creator. Even when I am busy and not feeling very Christian-like, He is still there, ready to touch my heart in ways that will boggle my mind. And He will be there until I close my eyes in death, guiding my closer to Him until the ending of this life where I will begin the rest of my life, worshipping before His throne in the place He has prepared for me.

Perhaps this is just rambling, perhaps not. The summary is this: God is real, He is present, He is love.

Can't wait to see You face to face, Father.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Friendship

Perhaps the most puzzling relationship on this earth is the one called "friendship". After all, there is no physiological reason that we need friends. Think about it:

The relationship of a husband and wife comes about because of love, with the outcome of physical intimacy, with the outcome of reproduction and repopulating the earth. Physiological need met.

The relationship of a parent and child comes about because of the child's need for protection and nurturing, which results in growth and abilities for the child to then grow up, succeed, and eventually fulfill the first relationship mentioned. Physiological need met.

But what about friendship? Nothing tangible can be gained from friendship. No urgent need of creation to hang out with your buddy. In fact, friendship could even be viewed as a selfish relationship in which one must sacrifice without receiving any physiological benefit from the activity.

However....

Friendship is a gift from God. He knew that we needed to be surrounded by people who lift us up and encourage us along the journey. He knew that we needed shoulders to cry on when our hearts hurt and laughing voices to join us in our most joyous times. He knew that we needed people who we could call as soon as events occurred and people with whom we could practice the art of empathy as we share their burdens. He knew we needed to learn selflessness as we sacrificed for a non-family member we cared deeply about, and He knew that we needed to learn to be grateful for those people in our lives who simply refuse to leave.

So, counting friendship as a multi-faceted blessing, I vow to strive my hardest to maintain healthy friendships with those who are nearest and dearest to me. I will not take this blessing for granted, and will revel in every moment that God grants me to be spent with those crazy people I call my friends.

Covered

Jesus. Messiah. Perfect Lamb of God.

Sent to earth as a human, sent so that we as humanity could trust Him and know that He sympathizes with our pains and struggles.

Sent to die to pay the debt that we could never pay on our own.

But, during His conviction, a conviction that occurred despite His innocence...a choice.

A choice that could pardon Him, giving the punishment of death to a criminal who deserved death. A choice that, when put up to the crowd, did not go in His favor. The government official feeling that Jesus was innocent, washed his hands of the matter, telling the people that they were responsible for the death of the innocent Lamb.

"And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children."" (Matthew 27:25)

All the people took the responsibility of His blood, covering their consciences with the knowledge of the death they were allowing. Little did they know that they could be covered by the blood a second time, covered by acceptance of Christ as the Son of God, covered so that their sins, once blood red, could become white as snow. I fully believe that, even these people who sealed His execution, could be forgiven by the merciful, graceful, God of Love.

His blood covering was their sin. His blood covered their sin.

His blood covers all of our sin in the current day, too, and provides healing for even the most unthinkable act. All required of us is to accept that covering.

Are you covered?