Don't take the lemons
Don't be OK with not being OK...
My family and I watched a good movie last night: The Help.
During the movie, I found myself so irritated with the predicament of the main characters. Why did those black women put up with the crap those snooty southern ladies were giving them? Why didn't those ladies have the consideration to think of someone besides themselves?
Then, when it was over, it suddenly struck me. I do the same thing as those women. I allow fear of others and their opinions to rule over me, to dictate how I act and how I think. My appearance, my mannerisms, my likes and dislikes are all influenced by other people, particularly by avoiding their negative opinions.
That's not how it's supposed to be though. Those people (everybody that is) look at the world with selfish colored lenses, judging people based on their own sinful nature. And we, in turn, take in that criticism and live our lives by it! That is so wrong! We are all special, all made in God's image. Each one of us a piece of a greater puzzle, and there is so much more to a person that what meets the eye.
I'd imagine the whole world was one big machine. Machines never come with any extra parts, you know. They always come with the exact amount they need. So i figured is the entire world was one big machine...I couldn't be an extra part. I had to be here for some reason.
-Hugo
This statement made by the scrawny little boy from the movie Hugo is indeed profound. Every one of us is here for a reason, for a particular function. God's already mapped everything out, and you and I are part of the plan. Realizing this and truly believing it brings life a whole new perspective. Not only are you here for a reason, but the mystery is that you get to spend the rest of your life exploring what that future is.
A question I've often entertained is this: if our lives are planned for a purpose, and if I have the will to sit here on the couch and eat potato chips, then is that my purpose? Or am I not living up to my true purpose, and therefore how is God sovereign if I am able to deviate from His plan?
Truth is that everything we do is part of the big picture. My youth pastor led a class a couple weeks back that totally blew my mind regarding the Bible and its intricate web of patterns. I'll probably talk about that more in depth some other time, but it made my doubts regarding the Bible melt away. There is no way that such a complex system of symbols and enigmas could have been devised by the number of earthly minds the writing of the Bible required. No way. Every small thing we do has a much greater effect than we know it.
Reaching out to others isn't my stronghold, but sometimes I'm able to gather the courage to do it. There was one new girl at church who I managed to pursue, but she didn't seem all that interested in getting to know me, so I was nice to her and talked to her when I could. But to me, my saying hi and talking about school didn't matter that much. A couple weeks back, that girl told me that I was one of the first people to talk to her there, and now she's deeply entrenched in our youth group. I was astonished when she said that my small act actually mattered!
Not all people are blessed with the chance to see how their actions affect other people. But think about this: when you're sitting at home watching TV and eating potato chips, you are doing many things that have resounding affects. You're using electricity, for which you will pay to the electric company adding to their funds and contributing to the pay of employed individuals. You're buying food with the same results. You're not doing anything (seemingly), and if you happen to Facebook or Tweet about your lack of activity, that nugget of information will influence other people who you know. Do I want to be like that? Should I be like that? Is it OK that I'm doing the same thing? Little things mean a lot.
As people, we should be firm in our knowledge that we are important as individuals, and if there's something about us (our size, weight, facial expressions, mannerisms, clothes, character, or any other thing that comes as a result of someone's personality) that some other person doesn't like, the they can just SUCK IT UP! It doesn't matter what they think! If they are decent human beings, they will understand and appreciate everyone's differences, and know that God has a plan for each person. That doesn't exclude the fat kid addicted to Xbox or the mousy girl who never looks up from the ground.
Don't be OK with not being OK in someone else's eyes. You are OK just as you are.The phrase may be cliche, but it' said so often because IT'S TRUE!
You are kind.
You are smart.
You are important.
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