It feels a little dangerous to say that you were made for something just because it feels good, but I'm not trying to limit our purpose to privileges or "blessings" that make us happy. Certainly, seeking God's kingdom is sometimes quite stressful, risky, frustrating, expensive, or heart-breaking. But at the same time, I think we are built to recognize those "this" moments at many times that are truly significant:
Engaging in powerful conversation. Laughing till your abs hurt. Spending time with the poor. Finishing an intellectually stimulating book. Taking naps on the futon. Explaining to someone what "Messiah" meant and means. Receiving prayer. Eating Thai food. Worshiping in Korean and Spanish with 22,000 other people. Attending political rallies (at least when you're a poli sci major!). Chatting with first-year students.
In these things, we experience rest, calling, relationship, and God's Spirit. We explore creation, our personalities, and the gospel itself-- all things I think God rejoices in our relishing. Our "this" moments are therefore clues of a sort that point us to both who we're called to be in a broken world and what good things we were originally designed for.
While I don't often get to experience Chris Brown's fantasy-come-true of dancing with someone sexy into the wee hours of the morning, when I hear "Forever," I'm reminded of the fact that despite the blah and boring times, we all still have moments when we realize I've waited my whole life for this. This is what I should be experiencing forever. And for me that leads me back to the One that first envisioned a life and an eternity for me.
To be continued...
About Me
- Ashleigh
- A recent graduate of UNC-CH, Ashleigh holds an A.B. in Political Science with an Afro-American Studies minor. During college she served as Multi-Ethnicity Team Leader on her InterVarsity chapter's Coordinating Team, and InterVarsity still holds a warm-fuzzy place in her heart. She's beginning work on an MDiv in the fall, and in her spare time, she loves to read non-fiction, orchestrate social gatherings, listen to energetic and/or soulful music, watch 24, eat Thai food, and of course, write.
Blog Archive
Buddies, Heroes, and Otherwise Cool Thinkers/Strangers
- Abby's "Selections"
- Abner Ramos's "Barrio Prophets"
- Alex's "Piebald Life"
- Al Hsu's "The Suburban Christian"
- Betsey's "Considering Lillies
- The CBE Scroll
- CT's Leadership's "Out of Ur"
- Daniel Kirk's "Sibboleth"
- Elana's "It Will All Be Worth It"
- Emily's "Merry's Cloister"
- Emily's "An Analysis"
- Laura's "a lovely work in progress..."
- Marshall Benbow's "Joy in the Margins"
- Scot McKnight's "Jesus Creed"
- Shawn's "Motown Sounds Off"
- Next Gener.Asian Church
2 comments:
I had a friend once tell me that Thai is to food as heroine is to drugs.
That has nothing to do with the heart of your post, but it does affirm that Thai food may indeed be "it."
It most definitely is quite similar t heroin. (I would know, clearly.) I could eat it every day.
It's quite addictive and, well, I don't really know what else to compare it to besides sex. Thai food tastes like I imagine sex should feel-- is that too much information?
(Other people make those "Better Than Sex" cakes, so I hope I'm not WAY out of line...)
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