Green.

As someone who has grown up hearing the words and ideas of the Bible, there’s one that seems to stick out more than the rest: Heaven.  Its on the tongue of every aching man or woman.  ”What?  My suffering will cease, my hurting gone?  No loss, no rejection, no prejudice?”  Sounds like the place to be- and it is.  However, we get so wrapped up in the grandeur of perfection, and being a part of it(which is something to marvel over, don’t get me wrong) to the point where we miss the point of living entirely.   I start to wish for something quick and terrible, a shortened life span, a quick way out to perfection(I’m not talking suicide, but even Paul wrestles with his feelings on this, see Phil. 1:21-26).  This kind of focus draws us away from even the core idea of our existence.  Not to say I know/understand the exact reason man was created, but one could argue that since man was created on earth, he was meant to dwell there.  So with that in mind, there’s a shift in focus.  A shift to the world around us, one where the victory is already won, and the Creator of the Universe has claimed us as his own.  The kingdom then, seems to already exist, and exist here.  God has chosen US to be ambassadors of this on earth- what honor and responsibility.  So instead of this far off place we wish we were, our far-sidedness decreases and we’re left looking at each other instead.  That’s where the story is left off, and that’s where our chapter is.  Donald miller, in a blog asks the question “Where is there more fearful darkness or illuminating beauty than in the depths of the person sitting next to you on a bus? Where is there more evil and more beauty than in the unexplored cosmos of a human being?”  Its time to get our heads out of the clouds and have conversations.  Learn real things even about the “friends” we’ve known for years but don’t know the first things about.  We believe God is worthy of our lives- and by Christ’s example, we see our coworkers, our friends, our families, strangers and yes, even those you can’t stand to be around are in fact worth your time and worth serving, worth loving. They’re worth learning more about because of the value that Christ puts on them- the same value he gifts to us.  

We’re quick to judge(I’M quick to judge) because we don’t consider the story of others.  Get to know them- the REAL man/woman, and you’ll find yourself growing in love and understanding rather than distancing through judgement and prejudice.  I’m terrible at this, but I hope I’m learning to apply these ideas to my life.  I see my friends learning too, and when they apply it to others, I’ve seen amazing things happen.  These ideas are changing my perspective.