Reflections
“A Caterpillar does caterpillar things, but if he turns into a Butterfly, he no longer can do things of a caterpillar.”
This is my fancy way of saying I can no longer be who I was, when I was without God.
This past week, I wanted to share a few anniversaries that have been coming to mind. It wasn’t so much that I was thinking about them directly, but they just surfaced. As I reflected on their meaning, it reminded me about the changes we all face day to day.
Last year, about this time, I had stopped posting on my blog. Long story, but I was truly being led away from it. God was pulling me away from it. It felt prideful, which it was. I just couldn’t see it at the time, but He showed me quickly and without reservation. He wanted me to step away from it. I thought I was to step away from it for good. So, I cancelled the renewal and my billing information. The site disappeared and life went on.
Now, a year later, He has been putting it on my heart to return to it and approach it differently. He is leading me back and is showing me how I will be using my platform for Him, not me. And when I paid to renew it, it was all there, my settings, my posts, like I never left.
Another anniversary happened yesterday. I stepped away from social media last year on this date, closing down accounts and deleting apps on my phone. I stopped posting. I closed accounts and had to learn how to navigate life without doomscrolling. I survived, lol.
I did hang on to my Facebook account, rarely opening it, for the sole reason to preserve the memories that were already on there and my wife who is still on there could still tag me in memories and events of our grandchildren. I removed everyone except those close to me. I stopped checking the app or logging in to it, which was the point. God again was showing me my pride and the effects of social media on my life. He wanted me to separate from it. The hold it had on me and still has on people is incredible. This is why most people only leave for a while and then return. Did you know these accounts will start emailing you and text messaging you to come back if they notice you are not using it. Yes, I was getting text messages on my mobile phone, saying ‘did you see what so and so posted’ or ‘this person just liked something you may want to see’…
It’s crazy the lengths they went to and still do in order to pull people back. With God’s power I was able to resist these attempts.
Finally, another anniversary that surfaced this month was both my friends Eddie and Phil’s passing. Both from cancer two years ago.
What these all have in common are changes and priority. I assumed that I would never have my blog again. But after growing me, God changed my direction. He knows who I prioritize now…
In a world that tells everyone you are the most important person, it is okay to be selfish, prioritizing yourself over everything, it is easy to be self focused or a better way to say it, selfish. God wanted me turn off things in my life and turn down the noise of the world so I could hear Him as He showed me the deeper things of life. Who we are suppose to be. What our true idenity is. What the purpose of life is…
Social media for me equaled addiction, distraction and noise. You have to wonder, are things in our lives working against God?
I now watch people in the coffee shops and standing in line in front of me in the grocery store scroll at record speeds. Three seconds of attention is too long for them. They see a car wreck-swipe, they see an explosion-swipe, they see a jumper jump off a building-swipe, crude language and lustful outfits-swipe… It is all endless inputs through their eyes into their minds, hearts and souls. We must ask the bigger question, “What am I allowing into my life?”
Not having a loved one around is tough. It can be devastating. We can choose to focus on those that are lost or realize we can spread love and kindness and help others. A friend of mine lost his wife 2 years ago. I cannot even pretend to imagine that type of loss. He was wrecked. But I have also seen the power of God step into his life and slowly heal him, answer questions for him. He is healing thanks to God alone. He has recently given his life over to Jesus. He is beginning to understand how powerful God is. From destruction and depression to healing and redemption. No matter what you are going through, there is someone who needs you that is in need. What are we doing now to connect, love and serve those we care about? What about those who are marginilized, poor, disadvantaged?
I know I am not better than anyone. I know how flawed I am. I am grateful though, to have escaped a few trappings of this world and learning to live in simplicity and peace. As the months go by and my faith in God grows, He is showing me greater things to both separate from and add to my life. I can be at peace and also feel sadness at the same time for those around me that are struggling with all the worldly addictions we all face.
We all have our own struggles and vices. I am no different. We often try and try to be better, to do better. Let me give you a truth. You as a human will never have the strength or the wisdom to do it by yourself. It is the biggest lie sold today. But, when you have God in your life, He makes your life easier and the impossible, possible.
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
-Mark 10:27
Anyway, I hope that you gain the peace and love that is available to you, even in this crazy world today! Remember, He doesn’t want your religion, He desires a personal relationship with you. The Bible is God’s plan of salvation. He wants you to simply choose Him and not yourself. Make Him the priority. He grants us so little time on earth to make this important decision.
