I’m coming in EARLY this month in light of my past due posts. I’m not going to do the typical this month had blank happen, instead I am typing out a journal entry from break that I have been stewing on. Some of it is inspired by Nick’s mini sermon at the Christmas Eve service, which I wish had been recorded. Alas, here’s my journal:
I cling to being known by my Creator. More known than anyone ever could. Even more so understood. I think this is what I am learning— God understands literally every bit of the human experience. He knows this from creating us and further so by becoming man (Jesus). God became man to save. To understand. To emphasize. To weep with. To listen to. To fully get. If God fully embraced the hard parts of being human— why am I so busy fighting? Fighting others, myself, the world. Jesus fought for me through love, truth, grace and mercy, not with fists and fear. He became what we are and felt pain, heartbreak and loneliness. Often I feel distant from God in those feelings and forget that He’s felt it. I don’t have to “fight” it. I don’t have to just push it away because “God is good.” Like yes God is good. He’s bigger than everything, but he’s also equally human. And I can relate to Him. He embraces me as His own child. I belong to Him. He’s not as far away as I sometimes believe. He’s mysterious in the ways that He works but not in the way that He loves. It’s freeing to accept this love and be changed by it.
This feels so simple and maybe “duh Carsyn” but I do believe it changes everything. It should change how we view ourselves and others in the world. How different would our world be if people fought in the way God fought for us? Through love, truth, grace and mercy? If we saw every human as an image bearer of God who deserves dignity and respect? If justice were at the forefront of our minds and we sought to hear and understand people’s stories? God did whatever it took to know us. What if we did the same for His beloved?
So yeah that's what I’ve been thinking. Thanks for reading my mind this month. If you have thoughts, questions or concerns— sound off in the comments or text/call me.
Until next time,
Carsyn Gilmore