Long-suffering

In our cell group gathering last Sunday, the topic was smth like: how to be/do good in the world that has gone bad? It was a wide topic but we concentrated on few issues only. Mainly, how do we handle the not-so-nice things and situations that happen to us? To ignore it and withdraw, or to face it? If to face it, how to do it in a way that is suitable for the occasion?

The discussion lead me to think about my own behavior. I do not have patience as I used to have, I am currently lacking the humility I used to possess, I find myself lacking in this field of love: long-suffering. Maybe it's because I used to "be better" in this area that I notice the change and difference. The next question is then: what changed? Why I changed?

It has not been a deliberate process, that's for sure. As I look back to the time I used to be better with long-suffering, I was more simple, more sincere towards God, spent more time in prayer, spent more time with the Bible, spent less time with work/studies, in general was more "easy" with life.

Another aspect of this change, I have become more "hard" towards things and people. This is related to my previous post about pride: Growth and Pride. Now I'm still in the process of working on this one, and sometimes it feels that things are just getting worse: I get more feedback about talking in a "hard" manner, speaking harsh words without pity. I myself also notice sometimes how I handle people and things in a harsh way. What should I do?

Analyzing the situations and the behavior, I have one intermediate conclusion: it's easy to withdraw, but one really needs wisdom and long-suffering to face the issues and ppl in a good manner. Part of me wants to withdraw from all these situations - I'm not good enough to handle them. But I know this is a lesson I need to learn, so I want to continue to fight. Withdrawing means also not to take responsibility for other people or other things - as a Christian, I am called to take responsibility to care for other people and care for this world.

If you have some wise advice for me, let me know. One thing I want to do: spend more quality time with God in reading His love letters to me (the Bible) and in prayer. In addition I want to take good care of my family, do my job well, and keep up the relationships with relatives and friends. My current voluntary responsibilities in church will also continue, actually only two and half months to go. I want to trade my wasted time to the quality time with God, and I want to start this already before moving to Keuruu in August. :)

As mentioned also in the previous post, I'm gonna rest. I'm also gonna talk less and be in no hurry. God doesn't utter useless words, and God is never in a hurry. :)

Ideals in Life

It's all about life. Then again, a song says it well: "It's all about You, Jesus..."

There are two items that very recently came across my life that is related to the topic. One item came up in a recent facebook discussion on my wall. Politics, the visitors said, is all about compromises and negotiation skills. Another comment was stating that without the ability to co-operate across parties and contradicting agendas one cannot practise politics.
All these might, well, are true in today's (Western) societies, but I am not satisfied. I am a bit idealistic here, but isn't it more valuable and honorable to hold on to one's personal belief and principles, rather than trade those things for political achievements? Actually many times the contradicting beliefs and principles can co-exist, I think, but when there is a choice to make, will one make it according to one's belief and principles, or according to the level of benefit one might gain by making compromises?

Here the word "compromise" appears. In job interviews and such occasions this property might be counted as a benefit, if a person can "co-operate" with others and knows how to make "compromises" in order to make thing work. But considering the ideals, compromises kill ideals! An ideal is something true and noble, to which every person should hold on to till the end. Such ideals are honesty, trustworthiness, accountability, and humility, just to mention a few. These are not things one should make compromises of.

I might never become a politician, but if I do, I want to hold on and not to compromise. To co-operate is good, but one cannot talk about co-operation if one doesn't even have an opinion of one's own. As my pastor said at some point, it's important to have an identity of your own first, then to identify and help others to find their identity.

Another item related to the topic. Have you noticed this phenomenon: as a child and youth, one often has dreams and ideals of the world. After the long / hard schooling, when one finally gets to a position / job to be able to make a difference, one often finds that the world is a sick place, one cannot change anything after all. Then there lie two choices: to compromise and become cynical, or to hold on to the ideals and do what one can.

These two choices are kind of extremes, but I've seen so many cases, where people don't bother to hold on to their ideals. The saddest are the Christians who make compromises. Christians tend to either dive into self-pity or self-indulgence: one end keeps one from doing anything; the other end keeps one doing everything but with wrong motives.

In the Western society, another form of compromise is the questioning of God's (and Bible's) authority. E.g. regarding marriage, regarding homosexuality, regarding creation, regarding divinity of Christ, regarding the necessity of local churches. Christians and non-Christians alike tend to lower the bar for themselves, compromising on God's direct commands and guidances, disobeying but putting the action into nice decorated phrases and theories. I guess you might conclude that I'm a fundamentalist, a conservative, an old-fashioned, and legalistic. It's not in fashion to hold on to the simple beliefs taught by the Book.

I've given up, it's a good thing. I've recently again and again seen myself and my inability to change anything. I've happily given up. Happily, because I've found the source of Life, the source of the Ideals. I came to realize (once again), that it's all about Jesus. I just need to do my best, then the responsibility lies in His hands. I will rejoice, for the opportunity to do good, the opportunities to serve Him. I will rejoice, for the changes He makes in people, for the wonders He performs each day. I will rejoice, for He holds my tomorrow, and all my dear ones I'll trust into His good hands. I will rejoice, and sing:

It's all about You, Jesus
And all this is for You
For Your glory and your fame
It's not about me
As if You should do things my way
You alone are God
And I surrender to your ways

Jesus, lover of my soul
All consuming fire is in Your gaze
Jesus, I want you to know
I will follow you all my days

For no one else in history is like you
And history itself belongs to you
Alpha and Omega, You have loved me
And I will share eternity with You

.. it's all about You, Jesus, and all this is for You, for Your glory and Your fame, it's not about me, as if You should do things my way, You alone are God, and I surrender, to Your ways.

What a relief. :)

The song in Youtube