Late Night Ramblings
I've spent a great deal of time in recent months deciding what is important to me. In part it started with reading John Piper's "Don't Waste Your Life" with a small group from church; a book heavily weighted with the importance of living your life fully in light of reaching the end knowing that what you did matters on a scale greater than money, personal comfort, and "fitting in" with a lost culture. I've reflected on what it is that will make me feel like I'm important. Not out of pride or lofty ambitions of fame and fortune, but rather important on a level truly reflective of the One who has great purpose for me. As we were discussing during small group this week I desire to, at least in part, see myself as God see's me and to live my life accordingly.
I do know what is important on a daily basis. My friends are important. As trite as it may sound, I would do just about anything for any one of them. I also know, however, that it is not important how we treat our friends, but how we love on our enemies, that truly determines the depth and strength of our character. How's that for a soapbox statement?
I know what is important to me on a long term basis. That is my family. Both my family unit as it exists now, and also what I hope for years from now. I also know that family rarely exists exactly as we would wish it to in our creative minds and often we have to adjust our perception based on what we face before us. (Like I'm pretty sure I wanted to get married at 24, have my first kid at 26 and so on. I've adjusted to not getting all of that and suprisingly, I'm still happily optimistic.)
All of that being said, I guess really I do know what is meaningful and important in this life that I claim my own. Not neccessarily living to please my friends, but living for the people all over this world who suffer and go unnoticed. Not neccessarily living with the hope of having a family of my own someday, but knowing that what I do today matters and has eternal impact regardless of my relationship status. It's a good place to be but also very stressful. Certainly, reflection on matters such as these require a certain degree of response and action on my part. It's much easier to live passively, but maybe I'll start with scheduling a few flights at the end of this month and focusing on attaining the means to my desired end.
I do know what is important on a daily basis. My friends are important. As trite as it may sound, I would do just about anything for any one of them. I also know, however, that it is not important how we treat our friends, but how we love on our enemies, that truly determines the depth and strength of our character. How's that for a soapbox statement?
I know what is important to me on a long term basis. That is my family. Both my family unit as it exists now, and also what I hope for years from now. I also know that family rarely exists exactly as we would wish it to in our creative minds and often we have to adjust our perception based on what we face before us. (Like I'm pretty sure I wanted to get married at 24, have my first kid at 26 and so on. I've adjusted to not getting all of that and suprisingly, I'm still happily optimistic.)
All of that being said, I guess really I do know what is meaningful and important in this life that I claim my own. Not neccessarily living to please my friends, but living for the people all over this world who suffer and go unnoticed. Not neccessarily living with the hope of having a family of my own someday, but knowing that what I do today matters and has eternal impact regardless of my relationship status. It's a good place to be but also very stressful. Certainly, reflection on matters such as these require a certain degree of response and action on my part. It's much easier to live passively, but maybe I'll start with scheduling a few flights at the end of this month and focusing on attaining the means to my desired end.
posted by carlymarie | 12:16 AM
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