Sparrows, Lilies, and Eternity...

Lessons of eternity from the birds and lilies.
The greatest Rabbi once said, don't worry about tomorrow; he pointed out the birds and lilies of the valley. Not one bird sows, nor reaps and stores food in barns for tomorrow. The lilies never toil or spin, yet their beauty's uncontested. Then the wise Rabbi taught not to be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for the day is its own trouble.

Driving to school today, I found myself worrying, anxious, and perplexed about my future. What am I going to do with my life, will I succeed...will I fail...I almost felt this almost physical burden form internally...as I battled with myself, and reasoned with God. A most comforting and convenient instance came to mind. Christ teaching in the Gospel of Matthew (ch. 6) not to worry about tomorrow. After all are we guaranteed tomorrow? Let it worry about itself. However, he doesn't leave us at just don't worry, but he tell us to focus our hearts on the Kingdom of Heaven. A Kingdom that will not perish as the birds, wither like the lilies, but will be our reward for eternity.

Attachments..invisible gravitational strings.

All of the things..that we cling to, cling to us with invisible gravitational strings...



Driving once more, these thoughts were brought up on several occasions upon discourse with my rare, yet friendly passengers. I couldn't help but to remember what C.S. Lewis said,
If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.
I can't help but to wonder if I'm truly impacting my present world in a visible way, or have I completely lost sight of my ultimate reason for being? Like a train my thoughts then merged onto another track without a perceived destination... of what could cause this divergence from one's true purpose? Why would one want to live a monotonously, mundane, and meaningless life? Money can't buy happiness, but it can allow temporary comfort. Fame can't ensure true friendship, but it can create a short-lived, superficial fan-base. Friends can't guarantee successful life decisions, but they can be influential in shaping them.. I’ve been offered comfort, opportunities of recognition, and friendship in this world. I’ve tasted a bit of each, nevertheless “Turkish Delight” cannot satisfy a truly famished soul. So what do I have to live for, because I was certainly made for so much more. I know I’m a puzzle piece in God’s infinite picture. What purpose does a piece serve if it’s out of place; isn‘t it useless? As a follower of Jesus Christ and a believer of the Christian faith, am I being an effective vessel of service for the Kingdom of Heaven? Have I grown too fond, comfortable, or even formed an attachment to this land of brief of pilgrimage? Has the “Turkish Delight” of wealth and success tainted and numbed my taste buds to the life-giving, Bread Christ? Has my heart settled for moth and rust?

Surely these gravitational strings (earthly things), will no longer cling, when they meet the shears of the Divine Tailor; His love has freed us releasing us from their hold.

Day 2


09.21.2010

Insight of the day: Soul satisfaction isn't a mere matter of the soul, it's about the filling of a God-shaped hole.

I was thinking about the soul today, about if and how it's possible to satisfy it.
Which left me in awe and wonder, of how truly brilliant and compassionate God the creator is; when he designed the every longing of our souls to be satisfied by him and his love only.

Day 1

09. 20. 2010

Insight of the Day: Real roots, go deeper than the deepest soil they
they go to the soul.

I was in myAmerican Literature class, when this thought sort of materialized,
onto the first in my series of coffee sleeves. I've always had a fascination with trees,
and all of their different parts. So it's not hard to imagine why I picked a tree analogy.
Being of a different ethnicity in America, influenced this particular "self-revelatory" moment. The idea of who I am has to go beyond, from where I came or the location I am currently in. Identity isn't a superficial badge, but an individuality rooted in the depths of the soul.

Soul Survivor Seven Day Challenge

First Few Sleeves in the Collection

Monday the 20th of September I began writing little insights or mini revelations
of myself in relationship with God. The quirky yet fun part of it all is that I began
writing them on disposable, coffee cup sleeves. So I decided to make this an official
"thing" that I'm calling a "Soul Survivor Seven Day Challenge". There are two main parts
to this challenge, the first one is that everyday I have to actually take the time to think
about what I've learned about myself in relationship with God, and put into one sentence
that fits in the quarter of an inch, orange margin on the bottom of the coffee sleeve.
The second main challenge/fun part is to figure out the ultimate fate of the coffee sleeves
(I have a few ideas already) I'm open to ideas.

Sunny Saturday!

You are the treasure that I am after
Some look for riches, some look for power
Just give me eyes to behold your beauty
To keep me lost in wonder after wonder

You are the father of every prodigal
Running into the arms of sick and soiled souls
You make me whiter than the winter's snow
You cover over the ashes on the inside

Sunlight
Daybreak
Chasing all my shadows away

You're in the whisper between two lovers
Igniting passion long after the altar
You are the reason I sing
You are the reason I sing

Sunlight
Daybreak
Chasing all my shadows away

You shine a white light into my blind eyes
And now I've seen you truly for the first time
This revelation of my desperation
Brings me to Calvary, brings me to salvation
You resurrect me, You rearrange me
You make my heart beat to another symphony
You've pursued me like you think I'm worthy
And savior now I know that I do not deserve this

Sunlight
Daybreak
Chasing all my shadows away

Pocket Full O' Poems

Rain
Sound of the raindrops, rap, rap rapping gently on my window…whisper your silent melodies… nudge, nudge, nudging at my heartstrings…rhythmically beating to your cadences…thump, thump thumping in my chest…to your sweet beckoning…hum, hum, humming in my ears…your subtle invitation… tug, tug tugging at my gaze…steadily locking it with yours…shush, shush shushing my lips…gracefully swaying to your symphonies…my glimpse of you slowly fades…prod, prod prodding me back to reality… my brief glance at heaven slowly vanishes…going, going gone…along with the rain

Regarding Life, Love, and Purpose

I often find myself driving alone in a vacant vehicle, yet each time I'm surrounded and well accompanied by my thoughts and random ruminations. Forever pondering life as I know it, love, and what the true meaning of it all is. It's that place between asking a question and finding the answer. (A place many have dared to venture; a door some fear to enter.)

Life.
The journey between asking the question and finding the right answer is often the most neglected. I have found myself many times preoccupied with where to start or even the final destination; how to ask the question or the final answer. We all ask questions...what makes us all unique is the different paths we take to come to the conclusion, the answer. So my life, your life, our lives take their course...varying paths all in the same direction. Time and again I've found myself in wonderment of what drives us to continue in this journey let alone embark on it. Just what is the driving force, the fuel?

Love.
Something which my existence depends on. It's almost as if it's been encoded within human genetics. Embedded within our DNA is that sometimes mysterious predisposition to give and receive love. Love, this almost tangible, divine flame that eagerly consumes life, (my life at least). Being someone who needs to love and be loved, I have discovered life without love is mere existence...a rather meaningless one.

Purpose.
Is meaning derived from love. Life's purpose is the one question every individual is faced with. It's the not necessarily the start of the story of someone's life, nor is it always the final destination. Purpose is discovered at all of life's gas stations and McDonald's; all of the in-betweens and pit stops.

The arrival to this in-between state in my life is not some spontaneous occurrence. I am convinced that this frail and feeble frame had nothing to do with at all. Which leaves me with all but one thought...of glimpses of divine traces in my life's formation.

September 06, 2010