Wednesday, November 1, 2006

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"Love"

Posted by: Erin McLaughlin

Love is beyond my control. I must wait and look to my creator to learn it. Without Christ I do not naturally possess perfect and complete love. I cannot force another to love me, and if one should decide I must not expect perfection. All earthly loves die for it is only God’s love that is eternal. Why then do I trifle with the likes of men for a divine satisfaction? Because I was made to love, love God and love man, but my love dose fail. Still, God will accept me in light of all of that because His love is perfect.
Though we may not love a flawless love, we can accept each other and allow humanity to fall and find their way. Certainly that is the example Christ Himself has given to us.
I will try to understand you, try to choose my words when we speak. In a life that comes and goes so quickly, I will appreciate this time we share. You are unique and so I must learn to love you uniquely. You will change and so you must. God help me to accommodate your need and see the beauty in the evolving you.
Love is real it would die and it would live and know shame and rejection for the object of it’s desire. Love covers sin, forgets mistakes, believes and hopes, and deepens in humans with time. Love is a command. Yes but my love has found you, it is eager and will not relent. Love is a choice, if it is mine then I choose you.

Thursday, October 26, 2006

"Long Day"

Posted by: Erin McLaughlin

What makes a “Long Day”? Is it the unavoidable and pressing tasks that lean in on me, nagging and unfinished? Is it the loud and overly enthused patron who demands my attention while rapping and tapping on all my nerves? Maybe it’s a dream I had last night or the fact that my pants seem to be shrinking. Maybe it stems from a jaded thought about who I am, or what others perceive of me. Whatever the symptoms the fact of the matter is; there is no such thing as a day that is longer or shorter than another. Excluding of course an hour here or there for daylight savings and such. The real problem is my attitude.

     Say I wake some morning all early and rested. I breeze into work a few minutes before my start time and dive right into a full yet easy-going day’s work. I feel so resourceful and efficient. At lunch I celebrate myself by buying some pointless thing at Target. I go home at the end of the day to find a list of missed calls from friends (alright!). My myspace is popping off with Comments and Friend Requests (and why wouldn’t it be?). As I tuck in for the evening I am so pleased with myself and my day that I decide to pray and give thanks to God until I slip blissfully into slumber.

     Sure, but what if I woke thirty minutes before I needed to be in my desk and can never manage to be ready in less time than that? What if I look in the mirror and see nothing but terror looking back- blemishes, crazy hair and fuzzy teeth? What happens when I get in my car with five minutes to get to work (a drive that takes no less than 15-20) and I happen to get stuck behind every slow and un-motivated driver the world has ever known? How about if I race up three flights of stares throw open the door and find all of my bosses congregated around my desk with disappointment on their faces standing there in front of me and in front of the clock (which runs five minutes fast and now reads 9:15)? Perhaps I might make it through my eight hours there, but not without feeling immense embarrassment and worthlessness. I wonder what I would do if I got home and not a soul had contacted me. No emails no phone calls. Perhaps they all got together for a party and left their cell phones at home just to spite me. I would most likely decide to go to bed early. No bible no journal no prayers.  I would simply lie there, bitter and full of self-pity in my lonely lightless room.

     What a difference a day makes hey? The thing is every day is full of twenty-four hours; that will never change. Long before I lived and ever after I am gone it will be so. The real difference is the life and perspective of the one who lives in that time. Some days may be truly challenging while other seem completely perfect. The balanced person, the satisfied person is he that approaches each with a Godly perspective. Would I be so worried over what others think of me? Would I dwell in my shortcomings? Would I take credit for my blessings? Would I be so self-centered if I really meditated on the idea that my life is hidden in Christ? How silly each of those things appear in the light of eternity and of God’s love for me. Rejoice always, pray always and rely upon God’s huge love. Every day is a gift, the good and the rough; each is blessed.