Blog 6

The last blog ended with a challenge to think about how it feels to follow a set of rules to achieve the right behavior to be accepted or acceptable.

Maybe you are way past me in your understanding but I did not realize I was still living a set of man-made rules to try to please the One I acknowledge as God.  Have you ever felt like you were suffocating emotionally but did not know why?  What if it is because you are trying to live a performance based existence to achieve something that is only achievable by casting off the restraint of a rule based existence and choosing to step into the arena of applying living Words in a faith based existence?   Most of us know how to defrag our computer but do you know how to defrag your faith?   I was taught all my life to follow rules.  That type of existence is not difficult however if that is all there is then it is extremely unfulfilling and leads to the ‘bane of mediocrity’ mentioned earlier.  It leads some, like me, to the thinking that for me, “There must be something more.”

In previous blogs I discussed excellence, embracing resistance, living Words, taking a gamble on statistical odds, taking the ‘red pill’, congruence.    How do all of those descriptive words come together to create a platform to launch into the unknown territory of audacious hope?

First, it is important determine if you have merely adopted the belief system of others who have interpreted these words for you in your past or if you have your definition.  If you have taken the time to explore your own beliefs about these concepts then read on.  If you have not, would you take the time to wrestle individually with each of the thoughts in the previous paragraph?   What do you believe about the definitions for those words?  What do you choose to apply to yourself from those definitions?  How can wrestling with them bring you a new sense of freedom?

One of the ways I began my journey of ‘thinking for myself’ was by reading and studying opposing views of a topic.   I had predetermined that my demarcation line for truth was/is the Bible, which is self-described as a living Word.   I am aware that many do not consider this a valid line of demarcation and I am not telling you to adopt my belief system.  I am simply stating the way I determined what I would judge information against to determine what I believed as I “thought for myself.”

 

George Whitefield said:  “Press forward.  Do not stop.  Do not linger in your journey but strive for the mark set before you.”

Keep striving for the answers you are seeking.  We will discuss this more in the future.

Thanks for reading Blog 6.  Hope you join me as we continue this journey together!