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I'm still listening even after Christmas season is over. As I listen to the Still Small Voice of a Great Big God, I keep hearing Him say: Do as I do. Live as I lived and live.
That could mean a ton of good things like love, serve, care, laugh, share, etc. But as I read the Christmas story and some subsequent books, He keeps saying, "Sacrifice."
What?
"Sacrifice."
But I have.
"What?"
Uuuuhhh.
"You don't have to figure it ALL out now, but keep following me and be open and THEN obedient."
I see it all over that season in history when Jesus gave up heaven for earth. Angels for sheep. Glory for obscurity. Comfort for poverty. Perfect community for dysfunctional disciples. Kingdom defined for Kingdom to come.
So here I go. I'm not sure what sacrifices this will entail for me and/or my family. Comfort? Suburbia? Dreams? Vocation? Money? Relationships? I can say this...I'm totally uncomfortable with it, uneasy for sure, and maybe even scared. I just don't know where this will go.
Yellow brick roads are hard to follow.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Come And Listen...
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7 comments:
Dear Seth,
I have just read this post by you and you say "sacrifice" a lot. Now do you fully understand what you are saying? "Sacrifice," let's get a definition-"Forfeiture of something highly valued for the sake of one considered to have a greater value or claim." Now read that a couple times and reflect on what "sacrifices" you have made. Now I understand that you personally are going through a hard time emotionally and socially, but does that mean that your family should suffer for it? Sacrifice does not mean going back to school and trying to get a new degree in something that you hope will present you an opportunity just comes to you from God's almighty grace. If you haven't figured it out yet that's not how life is. Life is a bitch, period. And you have to take the opportunities presented to you. You can't wait around for the perfect situation; there is no such thing. It's about taking the smallest positive thing and making it into something great in your life, and God helps you do that. God won't just give you something, you have to persevere and take the good that is presented and make it great. I know for a fact that you have been presented with many great opportunities that you have turned down because it is not in your "comfort zone." Hey, man-to-man now, lets get real, grow up. An extraordinary woman once said, "You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with the best you have to give." This woman is Eleanor Roosevelt, and many other great people have said the same. So you may be wondering why I am critiquing you on how to live, and run your life… well it’s because I care, and all I want to see you do is succeed. Your family is trying to help you as much as they can, but maybe just maybe, you may need to do things on your own. Get out from under the mom and dad’s wings and spread your own. Now that was a low blow I must admit, but you need some real criticism from somewhere, nobody is going to tell you that you have screwed up until it’s too late. Don’t make that happen, there is still time, and there always will be. What do I want you to do? Make a goal for this week; start out small, “Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain.” Then make a goal for the month. Make them farther and farther out of your comfort zone, and make them worthwhile. Don’t make goals that are not going to get you anywhere, have a bigger picture in mind. Finally, you are no better than any other man, talk to everyone, they always have something to offer. And just listen, don’t put your advice in because you have no clue. Just listen, and an opportunity will present itself. You may not like it, but the opportunities that we take in life that we are disappointed with at first are generally the ones that make the biggest impact on our lives. Remember that.
Sincerely,
Nipote
P.S. If you would like to talk further respond to this comment on this page
Thanks for responding, Nipote. You have some interesting thoughts. Ones I'll have to chew on for a bit.
But to start the conversation off, I have one question: who are you? By your sign off, we might be related (or not). You are not my grandparents for they are dead. That maybe means an aunt or uncle. Or you could be one of my nieces or nephews though I doubt it, but you never know. And when you say man-to-man, I'll put good money that you are a man...maybe an uncle, nephew, or or some metaphoric grandparent? I guess my question to you is why the game of shadows? I mean, man-to-man, why not step up to the plate and say who you really are? I'm a bit confused as to why you would cloak yourself with a pseudoname (I don't no anyone by the name of Nipote). Since you know so much about me, it seems only fair to know a little bit more about you - name and relationship really. That would be cool for now and would be a great start for me if we are going to engage in meaningful conversation.
Sincerely,
Seth
no=know...i love not being able to spell at 10:00am!
Dear Seth,
That is great that you would like to know who I am. Am I going to reveal myself? No, not now. I have left hints, and that is all I am. It is better for you to not know who I am, because only you know exactly how many "sacrifices" you have turned down, and how many people's faces you have spat in, in the process. A great Man, Carl Jung, once said, "One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious." Take this conversation as your first real move out of your "comfort zone." Talking deeply to a complete stranger is not in anyone's "comfort zone." I am not here to play games with you, just to help. So take this as a first step. If you have a real question, or conversation, please leave a post. If you do not, well I guess this is the end of our conversation, and I pray that you take my advice into deep consideration.
Sincerely,
Nipote
P.S. Even if you asked everyone you knew, I would not answer
Dear Nipote, Nephew, or Niece,
Thanks for your response. I have a feeling these comments have less to do with my sacrifice and more to do with some sort of wound I've caused you in your life. I think by the line "how many people's faces you have spat in" tells me that this is more than getting me out of my comfort zone, but more of getting back at me and causing some more wounds in my life. Whatever pain I've caused you must hurt pretty bad for to hide like this. I've had hurts like that before.
As for continuing the discussion, this is just not how I live life. I try not to hide when I want to help someone, confront someone, encourage someone. I believe that in order for this to best be accomplished in anyone's life it comes from a place of living in the light. Nothing to hide. Knowing all people involved. These simply are not authentic and helpful when it comes to growing.
Also because of how you are choosing to approach this via cloak and dagger, I will not take into shallow or deep consideration the advice you have given. You have not earned the right to speak into these matters or my life.
So this brings us to a draw then. If you would like to pursue some reconciliation, then by all means let's work towards peace through knowing, understanding and forgiving. Contact me and tell me who you are. But until you do that, we will continue to look over some great divide that separates us and the world will be a little more empty because of it.
Sincerely,
Seth
Dear Seth,
Laughing. That is what I am doing. You are going right back to what you are comfortable doing. Defending yourself, and thinking you know it all. I like how you looked up Nipote meaning “nephew, niece, grandchild, grandson, or granddaughter.” I was wondering how long it would take you to find that goose chase, but you are at another dead end. If you want to know the meaning of my pen name it is because “Capote” is my favorite movie, and “Ni” are the first two letters of my first name. “A draw?” What do you think this is? Are we fighting? I don’t think so at all, but it is your way of feeling that everything is a constant battle that gets you in trouble. And as for you pretty much calling me a coward, well sorry I am an adult and do not care for what you think about me. And if these measures I am going to do not help you growing, then you do not know growing. Every situation has some type of lesson from it, but with that attitude you will learn nothing. For you to think you have it all figured out is ignorant. Some things in life you will never learn the true meaning, and you just have to live with it. That is one thing I thought you would know most. I believe that “one thing” I am talking about is “faith.” In life there are people who will just cut you down because they want to lift themselves up. Then there are people who cut you down because they are your superior. Lastly, there are people who cut you down to help you. There is never any gain with out a loss. You have to realize that. And once you do, then something will come your way. But if you keep pushing anyone who puts you down away, you will have no one left, and that is a little thing called “reality.” I am set in my ways, but you still have time, don’t always make the decision that seems safe, for those are the worst. Make the decisions that you don’t know the answer to, for the best comes out of those situations. The “spat” reference was to wake you up, because you are in need of a good awakening. Your constant state of denial is getting you into a mess of trouble, and certain people can only help you for a certain amount of time, I know. I am going to leave you with this, grow up. You have not done anything to offend me, but if you keep making the “safe” decisions then you will offend me. “And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.” Remember that, not everything is how they seem, and not everybody is out to get you. Who is there to impress? Nobody, but yourself. So I offer you my help, and if you are to reject it that is your choice. I hope someday you find out who I am, but it is not this day. The sky is still blue, the sun is still shining, and life is still going. No matter what you do life goes on. I hope you know that, and don’t regret the time God has given you. Carpe diem, remember that. You know how to reach me. Listen to everyone, they always have something to offer.
Sincerely,
Nipote
Dear Seth,
It has been a while since we have spoke. I was curious if you have taken any of my advice to heart since the last time we conversed. Do you have any further questions for me?
Sincerely,
Nipote
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