Nurturing the inner adult

Every so often I sleep around the clock...when I need to, I suppose. What's done is done; I'm not going to waste energy feeling all disappointed about sleeping in this morning. Sleep isn't a waste of time, after all, but a vital function for the body.

As I clean my house in preparation for a possible move, I've noticed that I am putting away many childish things...toys, for example, that I'm donating to a preschool. Maybe this is because I am ready to grow up spiritually; I don't want to be a perpetual child. That would be a bit creepy, right?

Holding onto my childhood doesn't allow me to fully be who I am. Contrary to what many people believe, I don't think there's anything inherently "magical" or innocent about childhood. In fact, I could be quite a cruel child...especially since at the time I was unsaved, confused, and enduring terrible family problems.

What I still hold onto from childhood are certain positive interests that still benefit me now, such as my adventure stories that I'd like to develop into a novel. Some things never change. Some things must, however; I must be responsible, sensible, realistic, and I can't be so selfish anymore. Now that I am an adult, I value wisdom and discipline.

That's why I enjoy being an adult more than I enjoyed being a child...because I am a much better adult than I was a child.

The process of sanctification

Saint Stephen's face shone like an angel's.

God's grace makes us more than who we are by nature. His compassion working through us gives us the hands of saints. His divine beauty gives us the faces of angels.

God's will for His children is for us to be lights in this dark world.

Lord, help me remember that this isn't a destination, but a daily practice and way of life. In this world, there will be some painful striving until we fully enter Your rest. May I not merely be like a saint of stone, a beautiful yet dead thing, but may I be like a living stone that has been breathed upon and given life.

The root of envy

So much gossip and general nastiness stems from envy. People see something in someone else that they wish they could possess, and they lash out in hostility rather than reflecting on what they might change within themselves in order to achieve it. From time to time I've felt envious when I come across people more boldly expressive than I am, who don't hesitate to freely share the essence of who they are with the world...and this would intensify if I saw that they were loved for who they are, rather than rejected.

But with God's help, I transformed envy into inspiration. Envy is a signal that we're missing something we deeply long for. From there, we need to find out how to obtain that for ourselves, or if that proves impossible, realize that what we desire isn't necessarily God's will for us. What we want isn't always what we need for spiritual development, which is the purpose of the Christian life. A modified "sour grapes" mentality can be helpful in that regard...but rather than lying to ourselves by claiming that we never truly wanted what we wanted, concede that what we want isn't what God wants for us, and learn to be content.

Rather than always wanting mooooooore, I'd like to be thankful for all I have.

The glorification of being busy

Postmodern culture likes to pretend that being frantically busy is a virtue. Everyone seems to be proud of how busy they are. And not being busy -- such as by having no extravagant plans for the weekend -- is a bit of a taboo. Spending a weekend relaxing at home is strange, I guess.

But what if being busy all the time was the taboo instead? "She's such a loser," people would say behind each other's backs. "She never spends time alone with God. Her life must be so boring...."

People make many decisions according to peer pressure. No one wants to be considered strange...other than in a media influenced, affected way like Zooey Deschanel in New Girl. So, instead of admitting that they spent the weekend in their pajamas, many people post carefully curated photos on Fakebook to manufacture the illusion of an exciting life.

Despite being aware of this, I still find myself stressing, racing against time...for what? What so desperately needs to be accomplished today? Maybe I'm not immune to peer pressure....Maybe I still care too much about what others think.