It's so opposed to human nature.
We're inclined to hold grudges, carry around bitterness toward others, and secretly feed our sardonic prejudices like a dog under the dinner table.
We clench our fists, scoff at the mistakes of others, and stand idly as our hearts turn a cold shoulder to those who do us wrong.
...but we're called to something higher.
Forgiveness requires us to transcend our human nature. To throw away logic. To let go of feelings that are perfectly natural, normal, and understandable.
"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32
Jesus forgave us by allowing Himself to be nailed to a cross.
Only because of this, the ultimate act of forgiveness, can we forgive both our best friends and our greatest enemies alike.
"'Cause you cannot choose your friends,
but you choose your enemies,
and what if they were one, one in the same?
Could you find a way
to love them both the same?"
-Derek Webb
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Creativity
Today, I wanted to be creative.
It was the final day of a long, busy, stressful week that felt more like a month. I was awakened by the sunlight pouring through the blinds. I walked outside, and it was warmer than I expected, a welcome surprise.
There were people all over campus, lying on the quad, throwing around frisbees, socializing with friends, and doing all matter of things that could be done comfortably outside for the first time in quite a while.
After eating lunch and strolling around outside for a while, I went to the Curb Events Center and sat down on a bench that was drenched in the early-afternoon sunlight. I sat in the warmth and read for a bit.
A little while later, I was overcome with the strange desire to create something. I don't know where this sudden feeling of creativity came from, but it was overwhelming. It was as if my muscles tensed up with excessive energy and could not relax until I had completed a masterpiece of one form or another.
I immediately reached for my notebook, and tried to write something - a poem, a song, a story, anything. Millions of topics ran through my head, but none seemed worthy of this intense, creative mood. When nothing stopped to pay my heart or brain a visit, I moved on to the prospect of drawing something. I picked up my pencil and moved it across the paper, drawing lines that turned into squiggles that turned into jumbled, chicken-scratchy nothingness. No shapes or figures presented themselves, and I was at a loss for anything to draw. I ripped out the paper covered with my failed attempts. I tried to fold it in some interesting way, but all I could manage was a pathetic, uneven triangle. Thoroughly frustrated, I crumpled up the paper and threw it away.
I took some deep breaths and looked out the window. Seeing so many carefree people enjoying the weather released some of my frustration. I forced myself to smile.
As I was putting my notebook into my backpack, I saw my Bible sitting inside. It occurred to me that I am a work of art. No matter how dull, dry, and gray my own mind might be, I was created by a Creator, and a mighty good one.
I looked outside again, and saw masterpieces everywhere.
I smiled genuinely.
"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."
-Psalm 139:14
It was the final day of a long, busy, stressful week that felt more like a month. I was awakened by the sunlight pouring through the blinds. I walked outside, and it was warmer than I expected, a welcome surprise.
There were people all over campus, lying on the quad, throwing around frisbees, socializing with friends, and doing all matter of things that could be done comfortably outside for the first time in quite a while.
After eating lunch and strolling around outside for a while, I went to the Curb Events Center and sat down on a bench that was drenched in the early-afternoon sunlight. I sat in the warmth and read for a bit.
A little while later, I was overcome with the strange desire to create something. I don't know where this sudden feeling of creativity came from, but it was overwhelming. It was as if my muscles tensed up with excessive energy and could not relax until I had completed a masterpiece of one form or another.
I immediately reached for my notebook, and tried to write something - a poem, a song, a story, anything. Millions of topics ran through my head, but none seemed worthy of this intense, creative mood. When nothing stopped to pay my heart or brain a visit, I moved on to the prospect of drawing something. I picked up my pencil and moved it across the paper, drawing lines that turned into squiggles that turned into jumbled, chicken-scratchy nothingness. No shapes or figures presented themselves, and I was at a loss for anything to draw. I ripped out the paper covered with my failed attempts. I tried to fold it in some interesting way, but all I could manage was a pathetic, uneven triangle. Thoroughly frustrated, I crumpled up the paper and threw it away.
I took some deep breaths and looked out the window. Seeing so many carefree people enjoying the weather released some of my frustration. I forced myself to smile.
As I was putting my notebook into my backpack, I saw my Bible sitting inside. It occurred to me that I am a work of art. No matter how dull, dry, and gray my own mind might be, I was created by a Creator, and a mighty good one.
I looked outside again, and saw masterpieces everywhere.
I smiled genuinely.
"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well."
-Psalm 139:14
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