A Dream Come True

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. an African American man who so desperately just wanted to be treated like an equal. A man who placed the lives, hopes and dreams of others above his own. A man who fought for what he believed in, despite the consequences. A man who continued to believe in his cause and follow where God was leading him despite the harsh words of those that opposed him, and the harmful actions that haters imposed upon him. A man who gave his life for what he knew this country needed. A man with a dream.

What are you doing for others? That question hits me straight in the heart. What am I doing for others? Am I offering the gifts that the Lord has blessed me with to help those around me? Am I reaching out to classmates, family members, friends, teammates, strangers... anyone who so desperately needs contact with a genuinely concerned human being? Am I loving others the way that I know that Jesus Christ loves me? Most importantly, am I living my life as a sacrifice for Jesus Christ who gave the ultimate sacrifice for me by living a life of service and sincere compassion for those around me?

I just so happened to rent the movie The Butler last night, not evening having a single thought about the next day (today) being Martin Luther King Day. I had seen previews for the movie awhile back when I went to the movie theater to see a different movie. I am sort of a history buff, and find the Civil Rights Movement quite interesting, so I thought, why not give it a try? I was immediately captivated by the movie, to the point that I felt I was living it as a reality. Tears were shed, my heart raced on and off for 2 hours straight, I felt beads of sweat rolling down my face in times of nerves, and I experienced shear joy in my heart as the movie came to a close as the efforts of so many African American men and women finally had been paid off when the nation finally granted African Americans legitimate freedom, and the nation's first African American president was elected.

When I think about the efforts made by African Americans just to be able to attend the same schools, restaurants, stores, entertainment facilities, use the same bathrooms, drink out of the same water fountains, etc. as white Americans, it brings me mixed emotions. The dedication, passion and sacrifice of so many African American men and women brings me hope and joy that there are people out there that will fight for what they know is right, despite the consequences. These men and women fought, even to the expense of their own lives at times, because they wanted generations of the future to live in harmony as a mixed-race society. They persevered to make it known that color is color, we all have a color. I am white, I have friends that are tan, friends that are black, friends that are brown, but regardless of what color we are, we are all people, and above all else, we are all children of the Most High King. The Civil Rights Movement and the actions of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. bring me sorrow as I reflect upon the awful consequences and treatment that African Americans had to endure, and many of those awful treatments, being imposed by Caucasian Christians. The thought of someone that claims to know and serve the Almighty, loving, perfect God and then turning around and torturing those that have a darker skin color makes me sick. It hurts my heart so much.

Regardless of who you are or what color your skin is, you need to know that you, yes you, are a child of the Most High King. You are loved unconditionally by a perfect God who gave the life of His son, His only son, just for you. Your worth is beyond measure, and you have a purpose in this life.

As a Christian, I want to do my best to love like Jesus loves. I want to serve like Jesus served. I want to sacrifice for the one who sacrificed so much for me, and I want to be in community with anyone that Jesus brings upon my path, whether that be someone with white skin, black skin, tan skin or brown skin. We are all equal in the eyes of Christ, and I am so thankful for courageous leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the many other Civil Rights activists who sacrificed so much just to prove that very fact. May the efforts of Dr. King and all other activists never be forgotten, and as Christians, may we embrace the love that Jesus offers us, and share that love with everyone we come into contact with, no matter who that may be!

New Year, New You...Literally!

 The Christmas tree has been taken down, and the lights and decorations have been put away. The festivities of the holiday season, the parties, the gifts, the food, the fellowship, are all over, and it is time to head back into reality. The world of work, school, responsibility, etc. Sometimes, when the wondrous joy that the holiday season brings comes to an end, it seems that I allow a glum, melancholy attitude take over my character. I feel as if I am trapped in a state of eternal sorrow, only to find that the only thing that makes it fade away is the approach of the next holiday season. The sad part about this is that the only thing that is trapping me in this state of mind is myself, but this year, things are going to be different. 

The year 2013 is one to put in the books. 2013, the year that I turned 18 and became a legal adult (although, that really made no difference to me). The year that I committed to attend Spring Arbor University and committed to run Cross Country and Track for the school. The year that I graduated from Bedford High School (finally!) The year that I left home for the first time in my entire life to move into my dorm at SAU and finally learned what it felt like to truly grow up (that's when I truly felt like a legal adult!) The year that I made friends that I can truly say I cannot imagine my life without them now. The year that I finally broke 21 minutes in a 5k race (20:43!) The year that I have experienced God to a brand new level and capacity that truly surpasses my understanding. And most importantly, the year that I have felt my hunger and knowledge for Christ grow so substantially, that I have learned more about myself and God in this past year than I have in the past 17 years put together. 

As I reflect upon this past year, I can't help but think about the resolutions I have for the new year. It seems as if the typical number one resolution for each new year is to get healthy and exercise more often, but here is my question... Why is it that we are always so concerned with bettering our physical selves, yet we allow our spiritual selves to slip through our fingers? I have to ask myself this question, because I fall victim to it every single year. As the previous year comes to a close, and the new year enters, the holiday happenings are over, and I turn my attention to,  "How can I eat healthier? How can I exercise more?" Yet my spiritual self is drowning in my attitude of sorrow.   Maybe, just like myself, you get caught in the end of the year crummies. Maybe you are experiencing a time in your life where your spiritual self is dying, yet you are avoiding the problem. Maybe you are longing for something more in this life. Maybe your physical self is doing wonderfully, but your spiritual self is suffering, and you are yearning for the chance to become a "New You." Well, I have great news for you... that is absolutely possible!

As I was doing my devotionals today, I came across the verse 2 Corinthians 5:17 which says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new." I find incredible hope in the words of this verse, and I find it incredibly appropriate for the ringing in of a new year. Jesus Christ came to this earth as a living sacrifice. God became fully human so that He could truly experience suffering and pain, so that He can connect with us, His children, in our times of pain and suffering. Whatever you are experiencing spiritually at the closing of 2013 and the beginning of 2014, fear, inadequacy, complacency, depression, sorrow, tragedy, anger, addiction, etc. I am here to tell you that Jesus Christ gave His life for YOU so that YOU can be made NEW! Our spiritual selves do not have to suffer. If we identify ourselves through Christ, and trust in the sacrifice that He has made for each and every one of us, we are given the opportunity to be made new. Of course we will stumble along the way, and some days will be better than others, and of course we all have a past. Maybe 2013 was a year of many mistakes. A year of apathy to what truly matters, but Christ has forgiven us! The old things have passed away! and if you are willing to accept the gracious gift of being made new that Christ offers each and every one of us, then YOU, my friend, are going to have a prosperous, rich, growth-filled 2014! I'm done trapping myself in the post-holiday frown fest, and I am prepared to welcome in 2014 with excitement and determination to continue nourishing my spiritual self. May you all graciously accept the gift of grace and forgiveness that God has given you out of pure love, and may you be consciously aware of the nourishment your spiritual soul needs during the year of 2014. God bless your new year, and the "New You!" Let's make it a great 2014, my friends!