The other day my sister and I were having a conversation about religion, and the greater importance there is in developing a personal relationship with God over following what feels like procedural religious handbook. I had had a not so good day at work, dealing with the many personalities of middle school students and middle aged teachers, and was just not in the mood for life.
I have picked back up my habit of going straight to my Bible when I am annoyed and had a bad day, so that is where this post picks up. My sister and I read a scripture (can't remember which one) and it led to the discussion of the various interpretations of the Bible and how different people apply the scripture in different ways. My sister, who has one of the most beautiful souls that shines at just the right moments, pointed out that religion has been ruined by people. She said that people have over-complicated what should be a natural relationship, turning it into what now resembles a complicated set of steps that must be followed day in and day out. What she said really spoke to my spirit because sometimes I can be that religious person, creating a complicated relationship.
Yet, that's never how I imagined God or knew Him to be. He isn't complicated or difficult or confusing. God isn't hard to love or obey or follow, so why was He sometimes made out to be? Following God isn't as hard as we make it seem. My sister summed it up to being a good person, caring for others, and extending as much love as much as possible. That was it. No drawn out list, no process, just genuine goodness!
I have picked back up my habit of going straight to my Bible when I am annoyed and had a bad day, so that is where this post picks up. My sister and I read a scripture (can't remember which one) and it led to the discussion of the various interpretations of the Bible and how different people apply the scripture in different ways. My sister, who has one of the most beautiful souls that shines at just the right moments, pointed out that religion has been ruined by people. She said that people have over-complicated what should be a natural relationship, turning it into what now resembles a complicated set of steps that must be followed day in and day out. What she said really spoke to my spirit because sometimes I can be that religious person, creating a complicated relationship.
Yet, that's never how I imagined God or knew Him to be. He isn't complicated or difficult or confusing. God isn't hard to love or obey or follow, so why was He sometimes made out to be? Following God isn't as hard as we make it seem. My sister summed it up to being a good person, caring for others, and extending as much love as much as possible. That was it. No drawn out list, no process, just genuine goodness!
The last item on her list, extending as much love as possible, resonated with me particularly after a long day of dealing with middle school issues, mixed with trying to teach in the midst of middle school issues, mixed with teacher issues. If I had only stopped and thought, "be a good person Brandi", "care a little bit more for that person and their needs Brandi", or even "give them just a tad bit more love Brandi", maybe my day would have gone differently. Possibly better. Love was what I needed and what God lead me to. I read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 to refresh myself on just what love was. The last verses use of the world always reminded me of the importance of not only extending my love when it was convenient, or easy, or for people that I like, or for people that I deem deserving, or when I was having a good day, or when I felt like it...no I needed to be doing it ALWAYS. Conviction felt, message received!
I started thinking how at the root of 99.9% of the problems in the world there was probably a lack. A lack of understanding. A lack of patience. A lack of service. A lack of compassion. A lack of trust. All of which equate to a lack of love. And what is love? God is love. Mind blown!
I started thinking how at the root of 99.9% of the problems in the world there was probably a lack. A lack of understanding. A lack of patience. A lack of service. A lack of compassion. A lack of trust. All of which equate to a lack of love. And what is love? God is love. Mind blown!
When you are far from love, you are far from God. When you are lacking love, you are lacking God. My sister reminded me of the importance of simplifying my relationship with God. And in that simplifying, God led me back to the simplest concept of them all: love.
So that is where I am now, getting #BacktotheBasics and starting with love. My first blog series!
So that is where I am now, getting #BacktotheBasics and starting with love. My first blog series!
Peace and love, beautiful people!
xo,
BLT
1 Corinthians 13: 4-7
xo,
BLT
1 Corinthians 13: 4-7
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self- seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres."