When I ask God for what I want, it goes like this:
Help me do better teaching a class. I wish to remember what I saw in myself last time, that ugly need to look like Somebody. You brought up short this clawing creature, revealing poor motives. I struggled. I cried for help. Let me move forward this next time, doing better.
God says, "Okay."
I do the class better. Recalling flaws from last time, I make fewer. A student even mentions I was smooth. Inside myself, I'm all Yes!! and leaping onto furniture.
But God's priorities and mine differ in the largest sense.
A situation sails in out of the turquoise, and here I sit. Stuck. Exposed. Complex motives to sort, good intentions gone awry. Questioning, raging, then.
Oh, God, I see the wrong in me. Help.
Either God is a sadist, or.
The priority isn't to move forward, doing better (as much of a grace and gift as that can be). The one necessary thing involves - requires - keeping sight of what's real about me (not pretty, but it's such a relief to remember mercy) and what's actual about the God who has a clue.
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I've been consumed for a few years by care for my parents, so writing has fallen by the wayside. In and for my heart, this has become a ... -
June 13, 2008 Senior Thesis, Victoria Hershiser Advisor: Chris Swanson The word “politics” in this day and age generally applies to endless ...
4 comments:
We can't accept others for who they truly are unless we accept ourselves for what WE truly are:)
Yes, Mike. Not an easy thing, either way, but worth the effort.
Deanna, once again I love your honesty!
I sometimes wonder if we make things too complicated by over analysing ourselves. I'm sure I do. Live life, accept I am a sinner, strive (in a healthy way) to do better and be more like God, shake off the dirt when I realise I've mucked up again, live life, accept I am a sinner, strive (in a healthy way) to do better etc etc.
Kind of not complicated, but somehow it is. I think I'm capturing a bit of the both of these in your post. God speed on your journey Deanna.
Thanks, Cecily. 'Tis true, a fine line exists between wallowing in shame and guilt and a simple acknowledgment, a daily remembering, that yep, there's a reason I need what belief in God gives. I screw up, though all my heart wants is true goodness from God, but, hey, at some point God will give it.
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