Too hard on yourself? Probably not.

Last week and the two weekends encasing it I enjoyed my fall break. 10 days of being far, far away from work, house duties, homework, and all the other daily stresses of life. Ahh.... vacation. It was so nice to take it easy!

Taking it easy... is this really only something we do on vacations? These musings remind me of a recent conversation that I had with a good friend. We were discussing time management (gew) and other challenges of being a grown up. In the discussion she mentioned to me that she realized she was being too easy on herself.

Too... huh?? Too... easy? Surely she means to say she's too hard on herself... right?

I'm confused. No... wait a minute. I'm refreshed.

To hear someone talk about their struggles and actually take personal responsibility is SO refreshing. We live in a culture... both American and Christian... that is sopped with sympathy, excuses, and "poor you" philosophies. The mere shock of my ears on hearing someone say they were being too easy on themselves and that it was time for them to step it up and gain some self discipline is well... I really shouldn't be so shocked. Shouldn't we be hearing this more often?

Shouldn't we be saying this more often?

In the Bible, we rarely see a lot of pity going on. And there are some real reasons in there to show some! I mean c'mon... lion's dens, world-wide floods, prisoning for one's faith, beatings, stonings, mockings, and on and on it goes. Instead of pity parties, we read calls to courage, faith, and control. We read that the Christian life is one of wars and races. NOT easy. So why do we expect it to be?

It's time for Christians to get over themselves and accept that life is life and heaven will be heaven. Sometimes when I find myself going down a mental path of poor poor pitiful me I stop and remind myself that I am living in a sin-cursed world that is no longer the way God intended. And neither am I. After this life is all said and done, the reward of being in heaven with HIM and the way it all was meant to be will make the struggle and hassle of this earth more than worth it. And in the meantime the mental image of Jesus dying on the cross for ME makes me ashamed of being so inward focused. He certainly did not take the easy way.

Our culture tells us to follow our "likes". We eat what we like, do what we like, think what we like, and pursue what we like. And our desires become far from His.

So basically, let's mature up and learn some self-discipline. The world will say you're being too hard on yourself... I challenge you to avoid the dangerous path of being too easy on yourself.

First Day of School

Welcome to kindergarten... remember that first day?? The beginning of structure and learning, of small yet also huge achievements, of wonder and opportunity. Charming!

But imagine if you were still there. Though physically grown up your academic level and common capabilities were still that of a kindergartner. There you are in your grown up body with a room full of children learning how to tie your shoes, say the alphabet, and count to 20. Not so charming, huh?

Working in the kindergarten wing of a school has made me ponder the process of learning and and growing that we all take. Physically, intellectually, and emotionally we progress and increase. We develop our talents, life skills, and various capabilities as we become older.

I wonder if we showed our spiritual level of maturity phsyically what stage we would look like. How many of us, though adults, are still in spiritual kindergarten?

Hebrews 5:12-14:
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

So, spiritually speaking, are you eating solid food or still sucking the bottle? Are you in elementary school or able to be the teacher?

Surely we would all be embarrassed to whip out a baby bottle and start drinking. We would never seek to repeat kindergarten. Yet we are not embarrassed of our equally ridiculous spiritual immaturity.

What evidence do you possess of spiritual maturity? Does your lifestyle reflect maturity? Does your understanding of doctrine and spiritual matters reflect maturity? Do you evidence discernment? The fruits of the Spirit? Is your daily walk with God one that is truly walking, or still crawling?

I for one am thankful we do not through physical maturity reflect our spiritual maturity. I'm worried too many days I'd be seen sucking my thumb.

Embarrassing.