Becoming Cultured

5-24-06
I am outside at a gorgeous café in Cincinnati. The sun is shining and the vines are providing shade in the outdoor gazebo. I enjoy the breeze on my face and The Fray playing softly in the background. The cup of French Roast Costa Rican coffee is still good even its current state of coldness.
I have been thinking about being “cultured” and how we relate to the unknown. We all encounter things that are new to us. When this happens how do we respond? What allows us to be able to take the unknown and make it known? Some may say that the very fact that you have encountered it makes it known. This is partially true but what happens before that. What takes place in the split second that something goes from unknown to known? I am realizing that the summation of all things known helps us to categorize the unknown. When you take a sip of a new drink or a bite of an unknown food you quickly use terms, textures, and thoughts from other things you’ve had to help put words and thoughts to the new substance. This is why being “cultured” is so important. The more things that we have encountered the easier it is to correctly interpret things that are new. How do we become “cultured” other than to encounter new things? This is why it is so important to have someone to follow. If we are not following anyone or anything then we will see everything new in an inaccurate way, at least in the beginning. Why did Jesus come to the earth? We now have someone to follow who has infinite understanding, infinite wisdom, and can see things perfectly. God has given us His Word and therefore we are able to be “cultured” by it. We do not have to fear going into new situations or places because our God has already been there and is everywhere with us. We are not really walking into new situations if we have the Holy Spirit with us. We are walking by faith. We are walking with God. We are already prepared for everything that we could ever encounter provided we trust in Him and not ourselves. We are running a race that is set for us. We are fighting a battle that is already won. Who is cultured? We are cultured. We do not have to fear where we are going because God is there.
I see immaturity coming out all of the time as people try to take their experiences and apply them as the ultimatum for what other people are encountering. Just because I had to deal with a grandfather who committed suicide does not mean that I know what everyone in the same position is going through or how they need to deal with their situation. I am not saying that we can’t ever help each other but I am saying that we can best help each other when we let God do the work. We can offer wisdom as we gain wisdom from God. We can help console people as God consoles us. We can teach people as God teaches us. Everything that is good comes from God. I am thankful for Him and desire to become more “cultured” by every moment spent with Him.
Let me know how God has “cultured” you lately.

Clanging Coins

5-13-06

Change. I hate change. I will always give exact coins to avoid the annoyance of having extra coins jingling in my pocket and the weight that is associated with them.

I feel that change is coming and it is “weighing me down.” I know that God is calling. I know that God has a plan for my life. I know that I am willing to go wherever He leads. God is whispering; am I listening hard enough, long enough?

When you go the store and have exact change then you have a sense of accomplishment, fulfillment, exclaiming: “yes, exact change!” This sensation is demonstrated when we fill our gas tanks. There have even been commercials that show the “perfect fill.” This happens when you are pumping full tilt and stop it right on “$20.00” or with gas prices today “$50.00”. This doesn’t always matter though we still are fulfilled on some level when it happens. We use credit cards most of the time now so I don’t know why we always go to the next dollar if we can…even if it means overflowing our tank.

This is shown in life when we want things to work out just right. We travel full tilt through life. We want to hit the mark. We want to be able to have smooth transition. Leave with people happy and walk into a place that is a “perfect fit.” Is this how God works?

What if everything is going well and you get a call. I am known to not answer the phone. I’ve found that cell phones are the acceptable interruption and it drives me crazy. I could be talking with someone about a deep wound or problem and if their phone rings...conversation paused. This sometimes irritates the people that are calling but I give priority to the people that I’m with. I care more about the person that I am face to face with than I am concerned with hurting someone’s feelings for not picking up my cell phone. I wonder if this thought process has transferred into me answering God’s call.

Shouldn’t we put everything on hold if God calls, pack up and move out. Shouldn’t we be in constant communication with Him anyhow? This would mean that His call is just reminding us that we aren’t talking enough with Him. If we were, would He really need to call? Did I miss the conversation sooner or is He calling for the first time about this? I want to be in His will, not mine. I want to be with Him, not alone. I want to be a man of purpose, His purpose. I want to love, live, learn, lie, and leave with Him. My Savior, my God, my Friend, my Father, my Lover. I am His. He Is. I’m not. I yearn for YOU. Guide, lead, walk, run, hold, protect, and teach…me.

Fallen...