Negative Nancy

Confession time! I've complained a lot this summer. It started as a trickle, one or two comments about the occasional event not going the way I planned. Then it turned into a stream, and all of the sudden, two months later, it's a downpour of pessimistic negativity to everyone I speak to. The wake up call for me came this morning, as I started to dread another week of work. On a Saturday. It's preposterous because I love my job and yet, the past couple of weeks, I've only pointed out the reasons that my job is a bit more of a challenge than I'm used to. As I searched for a positive quote to focus on next week, I came across a saying from Charles Spurgeon:

"I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages." 

How awesome is that? I suddenly realized that every time I chose to complain, I was missing an opportunity to truly experience God, in spite of what was going on around me.

Maybe you're more like me than you'd wish to admit. As another week approaches, take time to see each negative experience as an opportunity to trust God. Maybe instead of complaining, thank Him for always guiding your footsteps, even when the day isn't going the way you planned.

The Center of the Universe

He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.John 3:30 NLT

Imagine being in 16th century Italy and hearing for the first time that the Earth wasn't the center of the Universe. That's exactly what Galileo asserted in 1632 and wound up in jail for it too. How scary would that have been for someone to denounce what you always thought to be true? In one moment, your entire perspective on life altered forever.

As I started writing this blog post on my crazy stressful semester, I realized what my problem is: I've been looking at this as if I'm the center of the universe. I mean, not intentionally, but that's what its boiled down to. Suddenly I'm not getting my way and I must be helped. My supervising teacher must make sure I know what I'm doing. My professors must help me when I'm struggling, answer my emails promptly, and always give me the right information. I am in no way to be disappointed, frustrated, or annoyed, at least, not for three months straight. I've lived under the assumption that if I put in enough hard work and kindness, the world would bend to my wishes. That's simply not true.

I'm not the center of the Universe.

The world does not revolve around me.

When I look at it that way, for the first time all semester, life suddenly starts making sense. Just like Galileo I no longer have to make fancy algorithms to account for why the orbital patterns are irregular. I no longer have to make excuses for my inadequacies or blame it on my surrounding circumstances. Sometimes, life just isn't going to go my way, and that's okay because it was never just my life to begin with.

 So tonight I'm renouncing me as the center of the universe. It may be scary, I may not like it now, but living in a world revolving around Christ has got to be way better than the world I've created. One day, I'll look back on this, just like we do 16th century Italy, and wonder how someone could think the entire Universe could revolve around such an insignificant center.

What is the center of the universe in your life that you need to replace with Christ? How can you do that this week and into the future?

Fish in a Tree

"Jesus looked at them intently and said, 'Humanely speaking it is impossible. But with God everything is possible."

Matthew 19:26 NLT

One of my favorite quotes reads, "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." Can you imagine a fish trying to climb a tree? It seems like the most preposterous thing on Earth. Yet, this week of being a converted science enthusiast immersed in English classes has left me feeling like a fish climbing an impossibly tall out-of-water obstacle. 

I'm not giving up hope though. One of my favorite bible verses reads, "For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength." (Phil. 4:13) Though it seems like a challenge now, I know with God's help I can do anything. 

Fun Fact: Scientists have recently discovered the Climbing Perch fish which can actually walk out of water for six days to its new destination. Maybe a fish climbing trees isn't so preposterous after all.

Whatever your fish climbing tree challenge, remember that with God, all things are possible.