Well, poop.....Heaven.... I might as well post it...here I will just copy and post it here (But please go to Alan's blog...it is really really good...and I know you will enjoy it...OK I have said my peace):
QUICKTAKE: I wonder, do we just live, just move and move and let life happen? How intentional are we with our lives or is everything just automatic? Do you ever ask these questions of yourself? If not, perhaps you should reach down and click off the auto-pilot and grab hold of the wheel.--------------------------------------
Another thing that jumps out at me about this is how self-oriented we are, some people are. Honestly, not everyone is this way, so saying "we" is just a way to be nice and include everybody. That's not accurate though. Everyone isn't ultimately selfish and tunnel-visioned. A lot of questions in this post. Hopefully they are challenging questions. How often do you not consider the other person? It doesn't matter who the other person is, stranger or loved-one. Do you consider them as legitimate human beings with as much right to live and move and have being as YOU?
If you find yourself often doing only your thing for you, others be damned, or not, whatever, you mean there are other people?? If you examine yourself and find that your M.O. is often you first or you alone - more that you just consider others a bother or not as legitimate as yourself, "in your way" in some way - then this is a big deal. I hate to bring the bad news but if this is the case, you are deeply broken in a very serious way. This is not little "oh well, do better next time" kind of stuff. It's major surgery time - like heart bypass kind of surgery time. Maybe you're not killing people in back alleys, but let's not pretend it's not high-order brokenness that needs some serious fixin'.
So, after I read that blog post I decided to comment, because he touched something in me that I needed to get out....so, here is the comment I left:
Interesting...I am broken by your words..but not in the obvious way. I have been living my life ever sense my call into ministry to live intentionally for others (and God, of course). The ways I would intentionally do this would be to intentionally look for ways to greet and build relationships with others. This is especially true during seminary....but I am finding that lately I have stopped intentionally doing these things...but here is the crazy part... They are happening all around me despite my lack of intentionality. So, it makes me think...am I doing these things now in my life without even thinking about them...or is God (Holy Spirit) working despite me (and that is not an uncommon occurrence, sadly). I am broken, because it is forcing me to see if the auto pilot is on or not. I have found that I am spending more time for myself...under the guise of I need it..I am tired and in desperate need of rest (welcome to the life of a church planter in the UMC) but then I realize there are several cases that I have worked so hard to listen to God that I am doing things naturally that I used to have to intentionally think about to do...(and the life journey continues....)
Thanks for the words of wisdom and conviction!
It is amazing how I am finding myself using blogs as my devotionals...man reading these and scripture I know I am growing beyond myself into Christ centered community, and ushered into a even more reality in the presence of God!
But here is the deal...I believe that we can practice the presence of God so much that it becomes who we are...that we do live lives totally transformed by God and we start to live lives that do not have to intentionally thin about serving God and others...Because it is so much a part of who we are that we automatically exist that way and therefore we do things that way......Granted I understand you must keep up the practices or you will loose them...but what if sometimes the auto pilot is God living in and through us!... (we are not making God do anything...but we are just living our lives as Christians. I believe it is possible...and that sums of Th3 Waters belief as well, but getting to that point and staying there...and realizing that is always more and deeper levels to be in relationship with God and serving others.....that is the best part of this life we live....and I love it!!!! And what I love even more is when all of these things I have said about me or individuals....is when it happens and sums up an entire community!
Ok there you so...think of that one for a while...and let me know what you think. Take care and God bless yall!!!! KUTPs!!!
Vblog!
6 comments:
I agree with you, but it is a fine line of "who is doing the doing--me or God"? I am sure that at time the "me" rules more and at times, God rules more of my thoughts. Stangely enough, God also made us human to, strangely enough, to need Him. The paradox is in the need and the paradox is also the need to be a blessing for God to others. Some saints have achieved God rules more often, but they have a deep relationship that comes only with time and patience and God's time. Courage and more of God in you to you!!
Yep that is a summary of what I said. Thanks! heh.
Hey DG - I absolutely agree with you on the "it can become who we are" thing. I think that's the whole point of our lives as Christians. That's the trouble with a "quicktake" - they don't do a good job of fleshing out the whole of a thing. I was just touching on a piece. Anyway, I think you're right. And I certainly don't mean, in what I said, to start a guilt pot 'a boilin' in people. We don't need that. I think I was just reacting to the negative end of "letting life happen" - such that we do do what belongs to the transformation we and God desire. If, on that side of any good measure of transformation, we just let it happen to us, we ensure that we'll never get where you're talking about - that wonderful (and very possible) place where our thoughts are flowing naturally as His Thoughts. Good stuff. Thanks for the link. At first I didn't know who that was - "Allen" Creech? I don't know that guy. :) Peace to you man and we need to go fishin!
Dude Alan...I am so sorry about mispelling your name!!! please fogive me..I have made the corrections....
man I hate that!
Having grown older than I would have thought possible, I can look back and see that the spirit does some of his best work on autopilot. God will get you where he wants you to be in his own time. And once the spirit gets started it is hard to stop it. I have never tried to stop it, but I sure have been uncooperative sometime.
God bless you.
God bless you too!
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