Last Thursday I showed up for a meeting an hour too early. So, I read my Bible in the car for awhile. (Okay maybe 15 minutes max.) Then, I drove to Starbucks.
You know how some Strabucks quotes have those cheesy motivational sayings on them? Being addicted to literacy, I always read them. So, taking no credit for the following, here's how a Starbucks cup changed the way I look at life:
"The irony of committment is that its deeply liberating--in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life." --Anne Morriss
Why is that life changing? Well, it probably shouldn't be. It's just words printed on a disposable cup. Nothing about this quote is inspired. Definitely not God-breathed.
But Thursday morning, walking along the Bremerton waterfront, I had a breakthrough. Any issue I've had with making committments, decisions, long-lasting choices has been rooted in fear. I fear making the wrong choice. I fear missing out on some better alternative down the road. I fear being hurt. I fear hurting others. I fear being less than myself.
How dumb is that?!Thanks to a grande mocha, I can look at life differently. Healthier, I think.
"Committment is deeply liberating." That's the heart of the Gospel: Choose Jesus because He chose you first. I will be let down in life. I will fail, too. But I already have all the approval that matters. No more overanalyzing. No more choosing fear. I choose to be liberated in committment.
All that from a cup of coffee.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
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Ephesians 5
Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving. For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them, for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light – for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – and find out what pleases the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made evident. For everything made evident is light, and for this reason it says:
“Awake, O sleeper!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you!”
Therefore be very careful how you live – not as unwise but as wise, taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
See... coffee! It is more than just a means for energy. It is also a means for philosophical introspection so as to encourage inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI like your blog, little cuz.
ReplyDeleteYou need to come and visit us in Colorado. I would love to spend time with you.
Have a blessed time in Barahona. I WILL be praying for you and your time there.
"Commitment has kind eyes. He wears sturdy shoes.
ReplyDeleteEverything is vivid when he is around.
It is wonderful to sit and have lunch in his gardens around harvest time.
You can taste in the vegetables that the soil has been cared for."
George E!iott--Adam Bede
I love this quote about commitment. Do you?
Yes! I'd never heard it before, but that quote is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAnd I should definitely come visit you guys in Colorado this next year.