Stop Going Around Naked

Have you ever had one of those dreams where you’re standing before a crowd and suddenly realize that you’re not dressed? There you are in your underwear, or maybe completely nude, feeling mortified. It’s actually a very common dream that many people report having. One interpretation is that the dream is a subconscious indicator that the dreamer feels exposed or unprepared.

Lately, there’s been a whole lot of nudity around. Not in my dreams, but in the real world. The problem isn’t new but it certainly seems to be running rampant. There’s a spiritual nakedness that streaks across online posts and comments and across radio and air waves. Sometimes it flashes us in the office breakroom or even in our own living rooms.  

Jesus was clear in how we are to conduct ourselves as His followers. He left us the command to love.

“The most important command is this…You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength. The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.” -Mark 12:30-31

The love He speaks of isn’t romantic love, it’s not brotherly love. It is agape love. It is a love without conditions.

·        It doesn’t mean warm and fuzzy feelings.

·        It doesn’t mean approval of behavior.

·        It doesn’t mean tolerated abuse.

·        It doesn’t mean a lack of boundaries.

·        It doesn’t mean letting someone hurt themselves.

·        It doesn’t even mean agreement.

·        But it does mean behavior, words, and deeds that are other-centered, respectful, kind, and considerate.

And that love we are called to have extends far beyond our neighborhoods. Jesus commands us to love everyone, even and perhaps most importantly, the enemy. Those who disrespect us. Those who hurl insults. Those who are cruel. Those our flesh wants to grab hard and shake, even those our flesh wants to destroy.  

 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.’- Matthew 5:43-45a

Our time here is not about ourselves. It’s about God and pointing people to Him. But without love we are ill prepared to represent Christ to a hurting world. Though our message may be true, unless we are first dressed in love, they are too distracted by our nudity to hear the words, much less let them touch their hearts.   

There’s something else that Jesus said about love. It convicts me, perhaps it convicts you too.

 “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me.”-John 14:21a

So, if we are truly Christians, those who have accepted Christ as our personal Savior, then the answer of how to interact with all people at all times is simple. We follow His command and love.

No matter who they are:

A sister who let you down

A friend who turned against you

A gun-loving hunter

An animal rights activist

An atheist

A Muslim  

A conservative

A liberal

A person of color

A white man

A gay teen

A straight girl

An American

A foreigner

A pro-life supporter

A pro-choice supporter

Hillary

Obama

Trump

If we’re not loving them, we’re not loving Him.

Lesson for the Journey:

Agape love doesn’t come automatically, but neither does wearing clothes. To do either one, you must first be intentional. Don’t show the world a naked Christian. Remember, you aren’t fully dressed until you put on love.

                                                                                                 - Ann Wilds

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourself with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Colossians 3:12

Lesson for the Journey: Teach Them Well

One of the greatest trials we believers face is how we respond to the darkness in people. How do we answer the rude, mean, disrespectful, spiteful, or back-stabbing actions of people we cross paths with?

It's natural to want to respond in kind, to teach them a lesson. If we do, the only lesson learned is that evil prevails. 

But when we, relying on God's strength instead of our own, respond to the darkness with light we teach the world that Jesus reigns.

   ©Ann Wilds

"Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good."(Romans 12:21)

Love People Where They Are

Mom's mind isn't what it used to be. Her sharp, former librarian and newspaper-editor mind, once a steel trap of information, is befuddled from dementia. She lived with us for twelve years in Texas but is now in an  assisted living facility in our hometown in Louisiana, where most of our family resides.    

Communicating with her in person can be a challenge in and of itself but the phone adds another layer of complexity.  Occasionally, she'll hang up or put the phone on her bad ear, but most of the time we manage to have a semblance of a conversation. Though she often forgets I called the moment we hang up, I still strive to do it regularly.

During a recent call,  I was at a complete lost of what she was telling me. But instead of allowing myself to grow frustrated at not being able to comprehend her thinking,  I intentionally chose to focus on simply enjoying the sound of her voice.

Sometimes she is in the present, sometimes she is in the past, and sometimes I truly have no idea where she is. But what I’ve come to understand over the years is that where she is isn’t really that important. Simply being with her in the moment is. 

You know, the world is full of people that you and I may never understand. People whose beliefs, values, and choices differ greatly from our own. We may find them in our families, across the street, or on the other side of the world. And though we may not understand their reality, or even remotely agree with it, we can still honor them for who they are--a precious child of God. 

Jesus spent much of his earthly time with people whose lifestyles were different than His values. He didn't agree with or approve of their choices, but He showed them love and compassion never-the-less.  We don't ever have to agree on something to be kind. 

Lessons for the Journey:

Loving someone sometimes requires correction. Other times it requires providing direction. But most often it simply means one thing--loving them wherever they are.  

                                                                                                                           -Ann Wilds

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Col. 3:13

The Key to Conservation

The official looking letter said mandatory water restrictions. A few months ago we had more rain than we wanted. But lately it's been very dry and very, very hot. The two problems combine to heavily tax the local water supply. 

Even when we aren't pressured with an immediate shortage, it's beneficial to safeguard resources. In addition to water, we can limit energy consumption, recycle paper, metal, and plastics, and spend carefully. These actions serve well to help extend their life. 

But there is a resource that has no need to be conserved. It fact, the more frugal we are with it, the worse things become. Conserve water, electricity, or even viewpoints, but not love. All you need to do is turn on the television to know the world needs it more than ever. 

Lessons for the Journey: 

Love was never intended to be conserved. Unlike water, energy, or natural resources, its limits are boundless. Love is supernatural. The more of it you share the more of it you have to give.  Don't hold back. Don't wait until it's deserved. Just give it away.

"And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows." 

1 Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬ NLT

How to Avoid Knee-jerk Reactions

Each year before school begins my daughter has a sports physical. It's a requirement to play on the school team. There are many things the doctor checks to ensure she is healthy, but the one that nearly cost him his head was her reflexes. We were in for a surprise during her first physical. When he leaned over to tap his rubber hammer against her knee he jumped back at the strength of her response. Her foot would have kicked him right in the face had he not been so quick to move.
 

Despite her knee's sensitive reflexes, no reaction occurs when her knees impact the hard floor as she dives to dig a ball in a volleyball game. With protection from knee pads, her body's natural response is restrained. 

How much could we temper our own natural reactions to people and situations that would normally elicit a knee jerk reaction if we, too, wore pads? 

P ~       Prayer sets our focus outside of ourselves when we begin the day in active relationship with God and provides a cushion of peace when we use it throughout the day. It's especially important to apply before situations or interactions that we know are likely to trigger a knee-jerk response in our spirit. 

A ~      Accept that life, like volleyball, will be filled with bumps and falls. It can be a rough game even amongst fellow believers. Opponents will spike a ball at us. We may need to dive to keep the game in play. The more prepared we are to receive them, the more likely we can react in a healthy manner when they arise.

D ~      Deny the flesh's natural desire to respond in kind. When someone hurts me, or especially those I love, it is very hard by my own strength to not lash back. But it is possible when I call on God. Through Him we can step back and see that it is not all about us. Most people hurt others because inside they are hurting. Their behavior isn't about us, it's about them.

S ~      Smiles go a long way in helping maintain internal and external peace. Our mental attitude quickly goes in the direction we hold our mouth. The more readily we smile, the more ready we are to face whatever life may bring.

Message for the Journey:

Without pads, a volleyball player's knees experience a lot of unnecessary pain. So it is with us. We will be faced with situations that, if we allow our natural knee-jerk reactions to occur, will cause wounds. So before going out into the world - or even out the bedroom door- remember to wear pads.

©Ann Wilds

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 

Romans 12:18