A strange question, indeed. It could mean how’s your vision 20/20? It could mean weather conditions. It could be existential. Any or all can be true; however, I am specifically asking about the future. Your future as well as the future of our world. Honestly, the future can be quite frightening to me, realizing the uncertainty of things and accepting my role in things. I heard a sermon recently and it stirred emotions in me that were very uncomfortable. I was asked to visualize the world in 2020 or even 2040. What did things look like and how do people interact, what things are primary and essential to living? To all the visionaries and ideologists I know you have maps, pictures and blueprints of future earth, even the universe and on a very small-scale I guess I do too. What I found out about myself as I pondered questions was that I can not see very far. My peripheral view only extended to family, friends and coworkers, but my heart, mind and my soul ache for much more. The sermon was like being forced to choose bad or something worse? Really, not good or bad just bad or worse. You see, my vision was me and the universe circling me when in fact that is not the case at all. To use a metaphor, if this were a puzzle I am not the border, I am a single piece of blue sky in a picture of 5000 pieces of blue sky. Not to say I’m not important because the picture would be incomplete if my piece were missing it would be so very obvious. We all have a part, big and small…we all matter. We all have value! The future I visualized was very limited and only included my own…my career, my family, my life…me, me, me! Shamefully I thought to myself…where is God in my future, where is my church, where are my brothers/sisters in faith? I had tricked myself into thinking “I” was the center of the universe, at least the one I visualized in my head. Let me point out a very important piece of information, I did not purposely place myself above God or in place of God, I just assumed “He” was a “given” entity in my story. I am gravely mistaken and I am acutely aware of the importance of this bible passage I memorized as a child, Ephesians 6:14 (NIV) “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place…” To be fully Christian, God is not and should not be an assumption! Inviting God into our lives is not a chore or task we complete daily like getting dressed or brushing our teeth, He is more important than the air we breathe, without God we are nothing, we do not exist. God wants to share our joys, our sorrows, our everything! He does not rush in, He so desires to be invited in, into your heart and into your life. All too often, God is second place…He should be the last thing we think of before going to sleep and the first thing we seek when we rise to meet a new day. Please do not think I am pointing fingers, I am not…I am guilty of all these things and more, I share these truths in hopes that God can use my words for His good. As I pointed to earlier, I had limited my vision of the world as to how it affects me, but how shallow that is…there’s so much pain and torment in the world, we can no longer put a blind eye to the cruelty that us occurring at a dangerously high rate. Pray, that’s something we can all do…not just pray, prayer is mighty, mightier than all the wickedness in the world. Identify with a cause and then start your own franchising…own it! Look for the commonalities in others, not our differences. Be more open to discussions, less about debates. More about liking and accepting than of hatred. In Matthew 5:44 God says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”

In closing, whether friend or critic thank you for the time you gave in reading this and I leave you with these words from John 14:27 (NRSV) “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”

~Blessings and Peace~

References:
http://www.marilynsewell.com

Movie : “Raw Faith” (available on Netflix)

Ephesians 6:11-20
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6%3A11-20&version=NRSV

Matthew 5:43-46 (NRSV).
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205:43-46

Emma Watson’s speech on feminism
http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2014/09/22/sot-emma-watson-un-heforshe-feminist-speech.united-nations.html

Check out this video on YouTube:

The sermon this past Sunday was entitled, “What’s on Your Bucket List?” Interestingly, two years ago I started a “bucket list” for myself. I currently have seven items listed, only one of which I have sort of completed, so since it’s partially completed I feel it’s okay to share. “To have my writings published,” I have had a few poems printed in poetry books of which I’m certain not many eyes have seen, but nonetheless less they do exist in printed bounded books. In many ways I feel as though my words are being shared through this medium of blogging and back when “MySpace” was cool, I had a few paragraphs on there as well. Almost daily, I am reminded that my words and thoughts are gifts from God, I love sharing them with friends, family, coworkers and even strangers these are all counted as blessings (+) because just writing and being able to articulate my feeling, fears, strengths and dreams is a blessing as well as an answered prayer. When I become distracted, busy with busy things or am just being lazy and sometimes defiant as if I’m hurting someone by choosing not to write. The end result is I’m not honoring God with the gifts He has so generously blessed me with, but I am hurt myself, carrying the words and thoughts around in my very soul not giving them breathing space and places to grab hold of or simply the freedom to fly. One thing I’ve learned to accept is the fact I may never know who or how my words may help others, this knowledge keeps me grounded to not become prideful and take credit for what is “God’s” work. I don’t have the answers to solve the mysteries of the world and those of our vast universe, or to solve the world’s social and economic hurdles. I am a woman seeking to be present and involved in the process, choosing to recognize that I was created and created with a purpose uniquely mine. As I looked at my life today and took time to revisit some very fond memories, I found myself smiling and even laughing out loud a few times, I even shed a few tears…I reminisced and visualized my heritage, where I started from, my beginning, to whom I belong and a future that only God knows, He’s the best travel guide, no matter where the journey may lead. I heard this quote in a movie I recently saw, “A planned life cannot be lived; it can only be endured.”by Ken Williams. Be brave enough to live the life you were created to live. Expect the unexpected and be prepared for the unexplained, count your blessings each and every day!

~Blessings and Peace~

Casting Crowns-Thrive
Check out this video on YouTube: