Be Prepared to Be Judged

I'm reading Enders Game right now and am taking a break from it to do this post that has been on my mind.  It does include examples of this in it,  but you can find it, anywhere.  The theme is that you will be judged, so get past that fear right away and move on to being productive.

Judgment has become the currency of society.  It is the given means of acceptance, the way to absolution, the alternative to feeling or thought, and the altar of rebirth.  There are so many reasons for it that it is without number, but it is the most popular thesis around which the world turns, now.  

Judgment is not new, and the world goes through cycles that typically result from who or what is being judged... foreigners, self, sin, priests, exs .. whatever.  And, to those judging the facts of the matter do not matter for much.  You can be judged for being too emotional, too cold, not religious, or simply being religious in a different way.  In Enders Game, his parents had to hide their religion from the public but then disputed into which faith the kids must be baptized.  Religion seems bound for conflict rather than unity, historically.

There has been centuries of war over how someone wants to love God or who they want to love.  This month, many are judging others for how they choose to love themselves or others around them.  And, the President wants to erect a cage for conflict as his national symbol, which definitely seems a fitting symbol of his Presidency.

So, point made.. you will be judged by someone.  Now that we have that established, lets move on to the... so what.. factor.

If you live your life trying to please others, you will fail at the endeavor and will waste time you could have used more effectively building towards a better version of yourself that more fits and rewards yourself for being yourself.

So, in this month of LGBTQ pride, I'd suggest that you take pride in yourself, no matter what your differences are and even if you are not LGBTQ to love yourself and stop trying to be accepted by anyone else (a fools errand) and instead be accepted by yourself.  Then, let that lead to more happy paths,  ahead.

Love is More Important

I was sitting in a church pride LGBTQ service the other day, and they were singing appropriate and great worship songs.  Some spoke of God's ability to save and power.  However, most spoke of God's love, and that contrast was an important and helpful thing for me reflect on and write about.

I've noted over the years the various trials that I've had to endure.  Over those years, I wondered why God didn't come to save me from them.  In some cases God did by literally removing me from them or driving me to remove myself from them.  However, the powerful arm of God to save is something I've not often seen.  Indeed, the Bible writers also didn't see it often, as the Psalm writers begged for it, and the New Testament writers would endure many hardships and death.

However, God was present to care for them and me.  Even in my struggles... especially in them.. God's heart was very near to me.  That helped me remain steady and empower me over the years to keep believing.

As I reflected on this in the service, it occurred to me that it is much more important that God is good and loving than that God is powerful.  We often see power in bullies and those that control and use us.  It is a toxic situation, even if it can at times benefit us.  Having someone that doesn't solve your problems but loves you in them is golden.  My current romance with my fiancee is like that.  I think God choosing to die.. the ultimate physical weakness.. is the most needed and wonderful thing God could do and has much more effect than if God came in with power to dominate.

So, just remember as you go through your trials that it's less important that God saves you from them than that God loves you IN them.  Then, go and try to do likewise to others.