I am sorry for thinking I was better than you because of my faith. I am sorry for pointing out your junk when I have a mountain of junk I need to sort through. I am sorry for preaching at you about this and that when you didn’t ask for it. I grew up “Christian”, but I’m still learning how to walk out my faith with grace, integrity, and love. As I moved into my new home and have been spending time decorating it to my liking, I was reminded that our heart is very much like our home. We need to care for it in the same manner and others need to respect the boundaries it resides in. No person has access into our heart and home unless there has been an invitation or an open door. As I continued to process the synonymous experience of the home and heart, I came to have clearer understanding why people of different beliefs would feel offended, hurt, or betrayed by one another. A break in is violating. A surprise visit can feel like someone is trespassing. A guest that overstays their welcome is infringing in our life. So when people with strong belief systems impose their own beliefs onto us, it can feel overbearing and disrespectful. I believe most intentions come from a good place, but the delivery is often skewed or misunderstood because it’s two imperfect people coming together. Depending on a person’s state of mind and current circumstance, the narrative we are telling ourselves is most likely very different from the person in front of us. That is why I believe when two individuals can come to an agreement and decide they want to let the other person into their life, it’s such a beautiful miracle. As I continued to spend more time reflecting on the home and heart, I came to realize that God himself doesn’t violate, trespass, or infringe on our lives so why in the world would we do it?!?!?!! He allows us to choose our path and walks with us in our own personal journey. He simply wants a love relationship with us. So what could that look like for me? Well, I may choose to walk with someone of the Islamic faith or someone that is homosexual or someone that is dealing with addictions because I trust we are on our own personal journey. I am in no place to judge them or impose my beliefs. I will simply love them in ways that is honoring to both myself and them and be a reflection of God’s love. In our brokenness, it is inevitable that we will offend, betray, and hurt one another in our day to day. How we choose to respond in those moments could determine if it’s life-giving or life-sucking. It will be a constant push and pull, but we will always have a choice. Our human imperfections can cloud the mind and harden the heart, but it encourages me to know that the Higher Being up above is the only perfect being that I am able to trust with absolute. It gives me abounding peace to know I only need to trust Him and miraculously I, an imperfect person, am able to learn to accept, love, and build a relationship with another imperfect person. I am an imperfect Christian who is learning to open my heart and home in ways that is life-giving. I will stumble and fall along the way, but I will forever be grateful to those who extend their love and grace as I dust myself off and try again. From my heart to yours #19:
What does it look like for you to open your heart and home that is life-giving to not only others, but also yourself? What do you want to reflect as you live out your life? |
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I'm using this space to simply share the meaningful things that burn my heart and the random things that run through my mind. Simply desiring more vulnerability and authenticity in my life. Categories
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March 2020
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