We're Better Together (context:faith)

I am a firm believer of it: we're better together. Here are some of my thoughts as to why, in the context of Christian faith.

You see, it was in high school that the epiphany hit me: We each see the same sky, differently. Even if I am lying right next to someone, cloud-watching, we see the sky differently based on the mere fact that we are at different, albeit minutely minutely different, points on earth's surface. This was a huge revelation for me and it got even deeper as I shared this with my friend (see, we're better together). He responded "it's kind of like with God. We each see God in a different way." Yeah, we do. 

One could take this the universalism route, saying that any religion and faith practice is right for different people. I don't roll that way. But I do think that what my friend said that day rings true. 

We each have a unique story. We come from different cultures. And we are not all wired the same. 

I am reading the book of Revelations right now and was struck by how, when God was giving His words to the 7 different churches, he revealed himself in different ways. To the church experiencing persecution, God describes himself as "...the First and the Last, who died and came to life" (Rev 2:8). To the church dealing a lot with sexual sins, he reveals himself as "...He who searches hearts and minds..." (Rev. 2: 23b). To each church, it is as if God was highlighting a part of himself that He knows the people will get. Who He is relates to them; God's relevant like that. 

For those with little: Provider God. 
When surrounded by nature: Creator God. 
To the orphaned, or abandoned: Father God
Those persecuted: My Defender

And so on. God's names and attributes are all through scripture--check it out. 

These different characteristics of God may ring true for different people, with their unique stories, at different times.  And this leads me to conclude: I think we'd do better to know people different than we are, to listen to each other's stories, and to learn more of who God is. We're better together. 

In peace, Christina

Cups of Joe and Life Rhythms

In this season of my life, I have little that remains the same from year to year, or sometimes even from week to week. In many ways, I like living like this. I have a natural tendency to begin daydreaming about what's the next big thing soon after I start a new project or activity. I like mixing things up. But, at the same time, I highly value consistency. I consider myself a loyal person and I seek consistent things and people to root and ground myself in.

This summer I created goals and on the list, between "become a morning person, again" and "create a doable budget" was: "foster rhythms for my life".

Rhythms and routines are important. Just ask any elementary teacher and they can vouch for the [greater level of] insanity they would have without their daily schedule. Physically, our bodies naturally operate out of cycles and rhythms, such as the circadian rhythm that so many of my peers try to ignore. Spiritually, my Christian ancestors created things such as the Christian calendar and Liturgy of the Hours because they knew the value of rhythms.

Once spring classes were done, I began to think more about already-created rhythms and ones which I would like to adopt or create in my life. In Georgia, these times of deep thought often happened in the shelter of a screen porch, with coffee in hand. In Iowa, these times happened at a kitchen table, with a coffee in hand. In each state I've been to this summer, much quiet time has happened for me with, you guessed it, a good 'ole cup 'o Joe.

Without realizing it, morning coffee had become a key ritual in my mornings, usually partnered with my Bible and journal. In many ways, coffee has helped me create a sacred space of inner quietude in the mornings, before the day fully begins. Mornings can set the tone for the rest of the day--hence one reason why I want to re-become a morning person like I was before college.

You might call it an addiction, but I stand by my choice of calling it a ritual, a rhythm in my day. And a delicious rhythm, at that.

In peace, and with coffee at an arm's distance,
Christina

Those unexpected places

On my walk home from church I stopped to talk to a stranger who, I later learned, lives in Oklahoma but is traveling through Iowa to do ministry. Her bright yellow shirt clearly spelled out what she's about: "Want some prayer? Ask me." I didn't ask.

But, as we were talking about this and that, she stopped and said "you've got travels ahead of you," I nodded my head--she was merely restating what I had already told her. "God's telling me that you do and that you've been searching for something and you're going to find it in an unexpected place."

I'm not against prophecy or speaking words over others. In fact, I think it's awesome how God can speak to us so clearly through another person and how He knows we wouldn't accept those bits of truth in any other form. But, as much as I am for prophecy, I am also for discernment, wisdom, and taking things with a grain of salt. 

Maybe what this woman said to me will hit home in a huge way in my travels to come. Maybe when I'm in Washington I'll find that beloved pair of green corduroy pants I somehow managed to lose 5 years ago in Pella. Or my grandma's black pearl ring. Better yet, the passport I lost last year. I have this amazing ability to lose things I really like. But, I digress. 

I do not mean to treat this prophecy with contempt (don't be impressed by my vocabulary, this is verbatim 1st Thessalonians 5:20), I'm just saying she could have been a little bolder and gone a little more specific. Her words are vague and the more I think about it, the more I realize this is the story of life, literally. 

We find the things we're searching for in unexpected places:

1. We find ultimate love and true salvation on a cross (hello torture weapon of the Roman Empire).   

2. We find freedom in vulnerability. (Even Brené Brown agrees.)

3. We find greatness in servanthood. 

4. We find life when we surrender our own. 

5. etc. (Can you think of some other beautiful juxtapositions?)

I'm thankful to this woman in the bright yellow shirt for her openness to talking to a stranger. I am grateful she is in communication with God and wanted to share what she heard. If nothing else, my conversation with this woman gave me some food for thought and encouraged me to blog once again.

In peace, Christina