As a student at the University of Mary Hardin - Baylor I run across and find myself amidst people from all walks of life. Blacks, Internationals, Dallas Folks, Austinites, Public Schooled and the Dreaded Home Schooled. The majority of people on campus are completely and absolutely different. I find this to be a wonderful depiction of the Church, people coming together bringing their talents, gifts, and different perspectives to build another up. But lets get REAL for a split second, though these things may be true, nice and pretty written out. We all know that having them played out in reality is a totally different story.
For me, I have had a past filled with mistakes and incredible victories. I have been blessed with great minds, loving hearts, and unique personalities who have instilled a great time into me. I have also been burdened by trial and error style of learning, experiencing life the hard way one would most likely say. Even though things haven't been the easiest, I wouldn't have changed them for the world. Because I wouldn't be the person I am today with having gone through the pain, heartache, joy, and victories. I have learned that for me, as a imperfect human being, I find myself as a risk taker, willing to push the envelope when necessary, one to view at a level of the future and larger aspect than just the now. I hope and pray that what I do now, regardless how others may feel about it, would leave some sort of positive impact that someone can grow from later. To think that someone may think back about this skinny bearded man and say, "I didn't always agree with what he wanted to do, but I saw his heart, and I'm thankful now for what he attempted to do."
The more and more I explore, think about, and meditate on the current health of our churches, meaning the body, I find that there are a number of people who have the disease we all know, "the consistent christian" John Eldridge says in his book Wild at Heart, this day and age more men are taught to be passive and to be "nice guys", and more women are taught to be aggressive and to be "strong women". But the truth is, the Bible teaches us that men are supposed to be warriors fighting for our beliefs, faith, and women. In the same way, women are supposed to be faithful, supportive, and encouraging, fueling the fire for those men and others around them. I desperately wish that there were more people who were willing to lay themselves out, and risk everything for the simple chance of making a difference in another person life. But the pathetic truth is that because we are so worried about what others are going to think or say about us, or about our own comforts it's almost an impossible task for one to put themselves out on the edge.
As for me, I know how I feel about certain things, and that I may be willing to take risks others may think are absurd. But I pray that I would be more understanding of what others believe, how others were raised, and their process of understanding. That others may not have been as blessed as I when it comes to the training, mentoring, and experiences I have had. But regardless, I would grow in acceptance of others, and they would grow in acceptance of me. That they themselves would grow in spiritual maturity and move from their comfort to a radical life of faith, and taking of risks. I am thankful for who I have been made into, the daily frustrations that remind me of the people around me, and the ways I may be able to positively impact them.
"Let the weight of who you are weigh on the world, and then let them do with it as they will" - John Eldridge, Wild at Heart
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