Giving Some Back

We all have so much to be thankful for. We are surrounded by people who love us, we have sufficient food to scoff down-heck! the first world is dying from obesity and self inflicted eating disorders, a roof over our heads, we have a top notch education system and frankly no real survival struggles. I think it could be fair to say that we have no real need for anything really. We have all materially that we could ever want or need. Jesus blesses us so graciously. Despite all these amazing privileges, (yes, turning on a shower and getting warm water is a maj. plus) we always want more. We tend to look to our selves and ways that we could improve our own lives, rather than looking to the exterior. Seeing, observing what others are going through. Seeing what others need. We pass the girl eating her lunch by herself to chatter with our own friends. We snob the busker- too afraid to make eye contact just in case they ask for our latte money. We even diss the slow kid to elevate ourselves. Well c'mon people! Because we have been given so much, it is our responsibility, our duty to give some back. To put our gratitude into action (ya know the saying that actions speak louder than words..) To ensure that others can experience as much as we have, be blessed as much as we have been. This means that we stand up for those who are being ripped off in trade; not buying slave trade products, we stand up for the lonely kid;sit beside them and get to know them, hey! even give 'em a smile! This means that we appreciate the busker and their talents and perhaps even sacrifice our latte money, it means that we uplift and encourage those who are weaker than us; pair up with the slow kid and get to know the kid and not the condition. It means praying for the sick and looking after the lonely. It means that we step outside of our lives and step inside the life of another. Let me compare it to a building. The building is our life and we spend all our time making it look splendid. Unfortunately we always compare with others so it is always a vicious competition. All our focus is making this building looking beautiful and pretty soon it has all the luxuries and more that it could possibly ever contain. The walls are splashed with colour till even all the rainbows in the world couldn't compete. But in becoming so absorbed in this one building, the decorators(thats us) forget to explore the rest of the world and the beauty and versatility it has to offer. They forget to look at the crummy houses in the same neighborhood which lower its own capital value. Instead of assisting to lift the delipidated houses beauty they are scorned. This is a lose lose system. Ultimately if we continue to be self seeking we too will be caught in a lose lose situation. Our self absorbancy will lead us to depression, lovelessness etc. because the focus is always on ourselves and what we have and dont have. This is not the way to live. We are all called to a higher purpose, we are all called to a greater calling. A calling to love others and to share what we have, a calling to stand up for the little guy. A calling to spread hope, to give some back!

The Journey

Last week I went with a group of strangers on journey that was Spiritual, Physical, Uplifting, Intense but mostly FUN! This journey required all of me, all my strength to complete the cycling and kyaking and climbing etc.

The experience was amazing! I met people whom I would fully wanna keep hanging with, people who encouraged and helped me along with my walk with the Lord.

Fighter

Its been awhile since I've cried. Last night was the night. After a testimony from a young woman who had been through so much, that all of us go through and are tempted with, I realised that I didn't have what she had. (we always want more.) But she had was a passion for Jesus. Sure I have admitted Jesus into my heart and I believe that He died on the cross for me, yet despite all this my passion has dwindled. The phrase that has stuck with me from last night though is that Jesus is FIGHTING for me. He hasn't given up on me yet. It brought tears to my eyes.

When we live in the world, it is so easy to get caught up in ourselves and in what we need to be doing, that we forget that Jesus is there. I forgot. And after a while it gets hard to differentiate whether he is there, the harder it gets to feel his beautiful presence and thus, it gets hard to be his friend, to be in relationship with him. The entire reason for his terrible death was that we may be n relationship with Him.

I had been feeling empty, just doing, not really living, almost on auto bot mode. Its ridiculous, and sure on the outside it looks good, I'm good at the masquerade. Incognito as a impostor. But what a relief that Jesus is FIGHTING for me. I definitely cant wait to see what Jesus is gonna be up to with me :) I fully wanna love him like with everything, because I know that He will and can give me all of my hearts desires. He is amazing and funny, and loves me so much that words will never be able to describe.

After Gemz testimony she played a clip demonstrating how Jesus fights for us, when we get caught up in the world in life. The clip above is the same one which brought tears to my eyes and which Gemz showed.

It seems to me that others will always lay expectations on others. On the ones that they love most expectations of fallen dreams will be handed over like a heavy burden, which the reciever takes, only too willing to please. To the ones that they loathe, expectations of only the worst await. Like a dark preconditioned force drives the loathing to want and expect the other only to be disappointment and filled with betrayal. Finally, expectations are handed over to ourselves. In the deep conscience an expectation takes root, of success and happiness. It is an expectation which costs the most yet continues drawing deeper and deeper into the heart.

I have tried not to live up to those expectations, but somehow they make us who we are. Your fathers expectation of having the sportiest child in the country makes one strive to be the star hook and captain in the first 11 Rugby team, or captain of the A netball team. Eager to please our afternoons are filled with practises and training. We go through sweat, stinking like a pig, grueling runs, all so that we can be the best. Our mothers expectations of being the class pet, the smartest on the block, DUX, Valedictorian make us strive for excellences in the classroom. As a result we study long hours into the night and before we know it we are labelled 'brainboxes,' but that is okay, because that was what we wanted. Wasn't it?

I have to admit, I am a high achiever, I don't mean to be. I am incredibly clumsy and unco' yet I still participate in sport. I haven't figured out whether I enjoy sport for the thrill and adrenalin rush, or because it has made me popular and skinny. School work comes easily to me, but I have seen others work so much harder than I have. I have seen students put their everything into their study, yet have recieved no recognition for it. I hardly believe that that kind of attitude will encourage and nourish a seeking student. Yet at the same time, if I do not recieve good grades for my work I will be disappointed. With myself, for not trying harder. Funny isnt it? That that is an expectation I have put on myself with out meaning too. Mhmm.

Okay, so all these expectations around us. And we get angry at them if we think aobut them. But, what if there were no expectations? No body believeing that you can be more than what you are. I see people at school who have no belief in themselves. Who do not trust their instincts, who think that they are as good as what they can have or give- in the sexual way. Their parents or caregivers do not attend their prize givings and I barely see them at school functions. Do these kids have any expectations put on them that is nurtured and encouraged? I have my doubts. Expectations are put on us by those that care for us, I guess it is like a sign of affection, which leads me to think that these students, who have no hope in themsleves, who have no expectations put on them have no one to put those on them. That they are not loved. That is a tragedy.

To have expectations is to hope. It can become an obsession which is dangerous. It can blossom into life, as you see a hearts hope fulfilled and it can mold. Expectations are put onto us by others, who love us, who care. Sometimes for selfish reasons, but expectations make us want to prove our worth. Our worht is in Jesus Christ who has the expectations of a wonderful life and relationship for us and with us.