That's right, everyone - it's mid-September, and we all know what that means... Fall is right around the corner. The perfect time to Instagram leaves, drink a classic PSL, wrap up in blankets, and watch Hocus Pocus too many times to count. It's the time of the year we break out our brown lipstick, boots, and scarves. It's the season we pick apples, and pumpkins, and crack the window open to feel a slight breeze. It's when God reminds us He still loves us, and will deliver us from Summer (jokes :) ). It is, undoubtedly, the best time of the year. As I'm sure you've guessed by now, Fall is my absolute favorite season. It's one of the things I enjoy most about being alive. However, there is one aspect of Fall I think we could all do without: how comfortable we all are criticizing people for liking it. That's something I have never understood - why do you care so much that I enjoy a pumpkin-flavored hot beverage? I surely don't care that you don't. Why is it suddenly "basic" to wear a blanket scarf, since when everyone wears strappy sandals in the summer it's not basic then? I just don't understand - if you care enough to criticize what I enjoy, then is it really all that basic? Because let me tell you, us Fall loving girls don't criticize you for loving iced coffee in the summer, or a peppermint mocha at Christmas. I know, I know.... this is silly. It is. The concept, however, is not. It raises a serious question about our culture - why must we always feel the need to be superior, and why does criticizing others for their tastes make us feel as though we are? Have we really reached a point in evolution that we cannot let people just like what they like? If everyone likes it, and so it's "basic," it's probably because it's awesome. So, who really has the better taste here!? (again, jokes :) ) For real - let's let people like what they like. Not only that, but let's love them for it. Let's love each others quirks, and characteristics that make them them. Let's find joy in what makes our friends happy, even if we don't share the passion. Let's build each other up instead of putting each other down. Let's stop calling each other "basic." Come on, ladies, we can do better than this. The only reason you should be asking me if I like Pumpkin Spice Latte's is because you're at Starbucks and want to know if I want one. Let's transition from a culture of condescension to one of joy. Let people like what they like. It goes for the "basic" girls, the "nerdy" girls, the "sporty" girls. I think it's great that you love Star Wars, even though I don't. I think it's great that you love playing Basketball, even though I definitely don't. I love Fall, and that's okay too! What it comes down to is this - stop taking time out of your life to judge others for things that bring them joy, stop wasting your words on criticisms of beverages (but really anything that brings someone happiness). I am going to continue wearing riding boots, blanket scarves, and leggings while I sip a PSL and admire the changing leaves. And yes, I am probably going to post on Instagram about it. But I am so much more than that, and so are you. I have yet to meet a "basic" human being.
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I woke up this morning in an exhausted haze. Knowing I have 10000 things to do today, and every day, I got myself out of bed and.... that's about as far as I made it. I stood in my doorway, my mind running through my list of tasks, my eyes still half shut. After some contemplation about my next action, half asleep, I had two thoughts:
1. Coffee 2. Jesus (Order in no way representative of importance) And it occurred to me, those minutes I stood in a daze, unsure what to do first, unable to think straight is how I've been living my life lately. I don't know about you, but I go through these phases of being very diligent in my bible study, and then very lax. Though I know how important it is to spend time with God, I get so wrapped up in my own world - so many things to do, so tired, still need to work out, my favorite show is on, I've been wanting to read this book, and the list goes on and on. Needless to say, I have not been very committed to my walk with God lately, and that's just not fair - not to Him, and not to me. Because of it, I have been exhausted, trying to do this life by myself, pretending that I have it all under control, unsure what step to take next. Here's the truth - God will guide our steps, but we must do more than spend time with Him, we must MAKE time for Him. There's a difference. You see, when we decide we are going to "spend time with God," it's easy to make excuses not to. It's easy to put it off, and miss a day or two - which turns into a week or two, and before you know it it's been weeks since you prayed, or read your bible, and you've been making all sorts of life decisions on your own, which you are now coming to realize maybe weren't the best... but when we "make time for God," we are making a conscious decision to put God first. We are deciding that He is more important than other parts of our life, and we are actively choosing to follow His command. We are dedicating time to Him, by giving up whatever else we would have been doing. We are not letting the hectic times of life get in our way of learning, praying, and loving. We make time for what is important to us; we make time for our priorities. "Spending time with God" is passive, "Making time for God" is active. Don't live a passive life. Through Grace, we are forgiven for the times we write off God, but we are not excused. Look, I get it. Life is busy. God gets it too. That doesn't change the fact that God tells us to "delight in [His ways}," or "draw near" to Him. The Lord longs for us to spend time with Him, because He knows what is best for us. And it's true, maybe I won't have time to do my yoga this morning, or watching my morning news, because I decided instead to read and reflect on God's word, but I have to learn to be okay with that. God knows that the more time we spend in His word, and praying, and being near to Him, the better off we will be, the closer we will become to Him, the more our hearts will shift to be like His. And the less we make time for Him, we will not find that rest He has promised us, we will not know His promises, or His teachings, we will be more likely to walk into sin, we will be exhausted. Ask yourself, if someone watched your life, could they tell that God was important to you? It all comes down to this: if you aren't making time for God, then He isn't a priority. Harsh, but true. You put your favorite shows ahead of Him, or maybe it's a few more minutes of sleep, or whatever it is, you're telling God that it is more important than Him. Me too. The God of the universe wants to spend time with you, because He loves you. That should move you. We can't keep on living like we don't need Him, because we do. We can't keep on living like He doesn't care if we read our bibles, because He does. We can't keep on living like we have this all under control, because we don't. We must make God a priority. He pulls us out of half-awake haze, our stumble to pick our next move, our inability to rest. Not to mention, He deserves it. He is, after all, God. |
AuthorHello! I'm Becca -humanitarian, caffeine addict, lover of books, people, and all things Jesus. You can find me in my pajamas, day dreaming about rainy days and saving the world. Archives
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