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I have this sense of hope, this sense of freshness. I have this sense, in my spirit, that something exciting is on the horizon -- something new, something transformative. In my life, and in others around me. I don't know, it feels like it's been a long time since I've felt this.
I was biking to school today and it occurred to me that in my friend Kristen I see a purity. Not in the typical sense, but a purity of heart. A beautiful, unblemished motivation to see all of this world has to offer and to truly love others.
I was talking to Mike today about the line that exists in the 'Christian' life of loving people with an agenda, and then loving people with ... a bit of an agenda. I guess the former is what we see in 'evangelical' crowds -- where there's a sense of finding the 'lost' and reeling them in. Mike said that everything is better when there's God between you and it, that it makes the fruit more ripe. Juicier, I like to think.
I asked him what he thought about doing anything we do without God in between. He thought for a moment, and continued with the food analogy, saying it's like growing up with a mom who's terrible at cooking but tells you it's the best. And then you try actual good food and it's only in tasting that where you realize how tasty food can be. It's a bit of a conditioned thing, I think.
Red to Black 1 - Chad HagenI have this idea -- this idea that ideally, the older we grow, the purer our heart becomes. That, if we are feeling beings, then God uses those feelings to show us his goodness. That we have seasons where life is bleak, or at best, mediocre. And then, we have seasons of renewal. Times where we sense and see and taste a deep hope that spills over into our actions, our thoughts, our interactions with people.
I think it's in both nothingness and in everything that we find wholeness. Where we feel compelled with all of our being to seek purity of heart.
2 reactions.:
Hey Yuan, nice thoughts! I love your zest for life!
On an agenda for loving people, wouldn't you say the agenda of "winning lost souls" would be the highest form of love we could give people? I think presenting Jesus to a world that needs purpose, and to people who are going to spend eternity away from God, is the greatest gift we can give! Only Jesus can give eternal life and complete fulfilment of purpose, so as long as we're not doing it in focus of "numbers" of converts, or to promote self or our ministries, I think the pursuit of lost souls for the Kingdom of God is a high and commendable pursuit!
I think sometimes we don't speak the truth in love (and preach the gospel) because we're too afraid of offending someone or afraid of stepping on cultural toes. I think showing someone Jesus' love is probably the best way we can show love to someone :)
"freshness" haha i love you, and your ideas.
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