Beginnings part 4
Now that we (hopefully) understand our beginning a little better--we came from love, and even though it was dark out, God shined His light of love so that we could see clearly--we can stop despising small beginnings. Because everybody starts somewhere. And what I'm hoping to stay in this Rant series is that you can start right where you're at. God allows U-turns, right? In fact, I'm convinced that He encourages them. You don't have to settle for less than. You're not stuck. Your story is not written yet. And, listen, I know its easy to let our past affect our present. Everything that has happened has led us to where we are right now. But we have a choice. We can either drown under our past, and let it dicatate and define us... or we can learn from it and rise above it. A U-turn doesn't mean throwing the baby out with the bathwater, to coin an old phrase. We don't have to act like what has happened hasn't happened. If it happened, it happened. But just because it happened doesn't mean we're irredemable. Forgiveness is a big part of the Christian message, right? And, as always, I'm not saying you should ever put yourself, or stay, or put yourself BACK, into a bad situation. Loving people doesn't mean letting them abuse you. Turn the other cheek. Yes. Don't retaliate. For sure. But if you need to shrug your shoulders and move on... that's Biblical too (Luke 9:5 MSG). And, really, that's my point. That's my heart for this Rant series. If you're in a bad situation... you can make a new start. A new beginning. And I know that can be scary. The "devil" you know often seems like a better choice than the "devil" you don't. But isn't there a saying about how the grass is always greener on the other side? I don't necessarily agree with that, but I will say sometimes we settle for way less than we should. And as far as green grass goes, how about Psalm 23:2, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters." There is no greener grass than in the meadow that God has prepared for us. And--hear this--that pasture is different for you than it is for me. The dream in my heart is different than the dream in your heart. And that's ok. God didn't create a bunch of robots. He created unique, special, individual PEOPLE. So even if your new beginning doesn't make sense to anyone else... if its in your heart to do it... do it. I always advocate following your heart. Doing whatever you do because its in your heart to do it. Not because you feel obligated to do it. Nor because you think you're "supposed" to do it. And, almost just as bad, don't NOT do things because you're afraid to do them. Don't disqualify yourself because you think you don't deserve it. You are God's beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. And the Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into His hands. Even though deserve has nothing to do with it... you ARE worthy of love. Just because you were created BY love in order to BE loved. You are capable than more than you think. And you "deserve" better than you think. Your past doesn't define you. You can move past your past. Learn and grow. Start over and do it better. I absolutely believe that most of the time you have to do something wrong before you do it right. You have to learn how to do it. Learn how to live. Learn how to love by learning how you are loved. That's what this life is all about. And it begins... now!