Some thoughts about life and color..

If you were to associate God with any color what would it be? Why? I asked someone this question and just by telling me the color they picked they shared a lot about what they think God is all about. They actually revealed to me-in words- how they see God.

Some background info: I was getting some coffee here at school and was drawing on my coffee sleeve. I wrote “I’m learning to love you more Lord” (How super spiritual right? Haha) Anyway, as I looked at the sleeve I thought to myself, “CRAP! I shouldve written the word Lord in blue!” But when I stopped and thought about it I thought, “Why did I want to write the word ‘Lord’ in blue?” After I gave it some thought I came to the conclusion that I wanted to write it in blue cuz when I think of the Lord I often think of peace. Peace, and forgiveness. How God remembers my sin no more.

SO. Out of curiosity I asked a youth at my church this question and she said blue too. At first she said, “Well…blue..because I think of …the sky. And when people think of the sky they are happy…” Well, she said something to that effect. And after I asked her to cut the crap we eventually got into some pretty deep stuff. I talked it over with my super great boyfriend (in comes Abe) and he asked the question, “Well what about the sky? Why did she pick the sky?” I said “ABE! That’s brilliant!” So then I asked the girl, “Why did you pick the sky?” She of course said that she didn’t know. But then I told her, “Well, you mentioned the sky. Not only did you mention blue but you also mentioned the sky...As beautiful as the sky is and how it gives some people peace…it’s still the sky. And the sky is not that close. It’s actually pretty far from where we are…Do you feel that God is far from you? Or do you feel far from God? And if you feel distance between you and God…who moved?” Her eyes opened real wide and she was like, “Stef, that’s crazy…” And from then on we have been able to really link God together with life. It made her think. Made me think too.

The things we say reveal how we see things. We are finite people trying to describe an infinite God. And we use things like words, pictures, objects, etc to describe God. That’s why I think questions like the one above are so great. Because it initiates conversation and provokes the mind. This is our feeble way of describing such a great God that to some is a father but to others is a judge. I loved how as I spoke with her that day she opened up to me. We were able to sit down and chop it up. By talking through things—actually going in depth--she was able to see how intimately involved God really is in our lives. And I loved every bit of it! Our conversation was proof of how effective interactive conversations really are. Little by little she is starting to see God a little differently (Praise God!)

Some final thoughts…

Like the girl I was talking to I think people want something real. Young and old. Real faith that they can hold on to when life seems to fall apart around them. We lack being real as Christians sometimes. I think most people can agree (or maybe not lol) that being surface level is the easy way out. We have surface level conversations, fake interactions, etc. But that day that I was talking to her I realized that it’s not that people don’t have faith or don’t want to have faith. They just don’t know what that looks like. And on top of that they’ve been given a bad example of what church is.

What would happen if people got together and talked about life? Talked about how the word of God plays a role in our lives? In my life? Are we really practicing atheists behind closed doors? Skeptics? Doubting Thomas’? I know I have been. Countless times. How do we see God? How do I see him? What do you compare God to? Does what you pick reflect anything about His character or how you see Him? Are we afraid to ask these questions sometimes because we know that we’d be facing ourselves?

My thoughts are kinda everywhere—so bear with me (haha) Maybe I’ll straighten out my thoughts some other time. But these were just a few things that were on my heart and on my mind so----I thought I’d share them. So there it is. Santo! haha

Barrier Breaking Thoughts

“No hay nada como la patria de uno”

Anyway, as usual I had the privilege to talk with some people today. I spoke with a man who was telling me how he used to live in Miami and how he really loved it. He said he really loved the atmosphere. Which I understood. I mean I know I always loved the Cuban community. It really got me to think. I’ve always been hesitant about going back to Miami but who knows. Maybe I’ll have to swallow my words, like I have many times before and go back to Florida. Knowing my life, that will happen. Its only natural. It’s happened before. Anyway, then I spoke to another woman. Her name I don’t remember. I don’t even think she said it. We spoke for a while. And she said something that reminded me of my grandparents: “No hay nada como la patria de uno”. There’s something about someone’s background that they have pride in. Made me think.

My family has a huge sense of cultural pride. So what does that mean, then? In regards to God? Did not God make all people groups? I think God loves it when all peoples love each other with the love of God that transcends any cultural barrier. Why? Because the one thing we would have in common would be the saving grace of Christ. What a beautiful day that would be, huh? Where the grace and love of God clothes His people and causes people to live in humility and service to one another. I don’t know. That’s something I think about. Being in the city I’ve seen so many people make up these invisible lines of hatred. And it’s broken my heart. You know one of the things I’d like to see my church do is reach out to our own community. Not that there’s anything wrong with reaching out to the other side of Humbolt Park but why don’t we reach out to the people where our church is? I mean, they need hope too right? They need Christ too right? I don’t know. These are just things I think about. The point is everyone needs community. I would hate to have our church move out of our own neighborhood and have those people in the neighborhood not even know who we were. Even worse, that we did nothing for them.

I look at culture as one of the extra things that He’s given us. He made us, and graciously put us into our heritage. And I really believe, that for some of us who have a desire to reach out to another culture—that’s a God given desire! And I think that Christians should take advantage of that! And I know it’s not just me. I know people who have that desire to see cultural barriers broken down. However, I am aware that we are not in a perfect world. But maybe I’m wrong, but if we want to see His kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven, should it not reflect those things that dwell around God? Like mercy and grace, and love, and forgiveness, joy, peace, and everything else in between. I try and think about Heaven and I lose my mind. I think about how different people groups from everywhere around the world will give praise to the one who made them. It wont be about us. It will be about the Lord.

…… Isnt that a beautiful thought? Yes, indeed. It’s a heavenly thought.

March 6th 2009.

March 6^th 2009

You know why I like walks in the city so much? Because you see so much. You see people walking, homeless people sitting, drivers pissed off at the world, people crossing the street when they know they shouldnt, and of course, cab drivers that have no patience. As you can probably tell already, I went for a walk today.

I went to Walgreens. A local favorite place I go to. I had to take out some money so I thought I’d get some cash back at Walgreens. I bought a raspberry iced tea—which is always faithful. Every time I get a raspberry iced tea, I remember the time that I first came to Chicago. I was fascinated! It was so different from where I was from. I would walk the streets thinking to myself how lucky I was to be in such a beautiful city and place in life. It was something different. The new season in my life that I had been anticipating...and I knew God was trying to deal with me. He opened up doors for me to come to Chicago--and that keeps me so humble.

So as I was walking I was listening to music—of course. My ipod is ATTACHED to me. I hardly go anywhere without it. It is a necessary thing. Perhaps it’s an idol I need to get rid of, but God is working on me!

Anyway, as I was walking, I began to pray. I prayed about so many things…my life. Ministry. Life in general. Family. Relationships. My relationship. Everything else in between. And as I was walking—God gave me so much peace. I was at peace. I’ve been known for being anxious about everything. Flying on planes. Grades. Life. Just about everything. Its hard for me to believe that in invisible God can take care of things—where I on the other hand can get things done and do things on my own. But lo and behold, there I was walking. And I was at peace. Peace. I had a paper to do. Was I worried about it? No. I had fears about endless things. Was I afraid? No. I had to pack for my trip back home. Did I pack? No. Crazy. I had peace. On that note…I guess I just wanted to mention that in the middle of a crazy world—especially in the city where you have cars, ambulances, cops, homeless people, angry people..I found peace. Or did peace find me? Who knows. All I know is that I walked humbly with my God in peace.