Those of you who know me well know that I'm not a person who willingly instigates a conversation, and sometimes that leaves people hanging as to how to get a conversation started with me. This is something I hear...frequently. Even with friends that I see every day:
**I'm is in a group of people or sitting across from somebody at a table. The conversation has lulled unexpectedly. I'm is distracted by something on my shoes or on my phone or on the ceiling. I'm okay with awkward silences. The less I have to talk, the better. Then, suddenly, somebody asks the inevitable question.**
"So, Ana, what has God been doing in your life?"
What should be an easy answer comes out as "Umm...lots. Yeah. He's doing a lot of things. I feel really, um, blessed."
I've been a pretty private person for, let's face it, most of my life. People get surprised when I tell them that my parents are divorced, or that I have an older brother, or that I have a mild obsession with crocheting. I don't normally tell people the details of my personal life. Which is why I don't like the question: "What is God doing in your life?"
Like I've mentioned in other posts, I see my relationship with God as more of a friendship than a somber affiliation. If you ask what God is doing in my life, I'll probably tell you about this crazy thing that happened while I was driving, or that I talked to a stranger, or that I got a letter from a friend that made me happy. But, that's not what people want to hear when they ask me, "Ana, really, what is God doing in your life?" They want to hear a heart-throbbing sob story about how I saw a mangy old cat in the middle of the rain and I went out to help it and it made me feel really good and alive inside, and how it relates to your relationship with God because you were once a mangy old cat and He took you out of the rain and nursed you back to health. I hate cats so that wouldn't happen, but you get the idea.
My point is, God is ALWAYS working in your life. You just have to choose to see it. Those funky adventures that you have in the grocery store, or the funny dance routine you choreograph with your co-workers, or that fantastic novel that makes you cry are all things that god put in your life. I'm trying to wrap my head around it, but God made us in his image! Wouldn't you think that he would want to spend quality time as well as fun time with something that he created? I mean, you don't make a paper airplane and leave it on the table, do you? You took time and effort to make it perfect, so now you want spend time having fun with it.
Never let any moment pass you by. Each moment is a moment God wants to share with you- and, yes, he does like watching The Lord of the Rings with you- so thank Him for spending time with you.
Next time someone asks you what God is doing in your life, you can just tell a story of something fun you did with God. I mean, of course there will be times when your frustrated with him, or don't understand why he's putting you through a difficult ordeal, and that's something to talk about too. Just know that you don't have to tell the story of the mangy old cat or think up a deep and personal story. Personal stories are usually just for you and God anyway.
Live life with God at your side.
Be Bold. Be Blessed. Be Bodacious.
~Ana
"Personal stories are usually just for you and God anyway." - Unless God writes a book called the "Bible" and puts your story in it for generations to come to read, learn from, and grow through.... just saying.... ;)
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I'm not sure where you're coming from.. My personal story isn't in the Bible. And, I don't think the Bible is going to be expanded any time with the book of "Ana". Sure, there are things that I can relate to, and Jesus' sacrifice is a story we're all a part of. Other things in the Bible apply to all of us- "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23), for example, that is the beginning of all of our stories. But, I don't think you can say that God "puts your story in it [the Bible] for generations to come to read and learn from, and grow through", because the way we live our individual lives isn't specifically recorded anywhere except with God, because it's a personal relationship. What I was trying to say in my post is that God can do some crazy amazing thing in your life-- but for some reason, you want to keep it to yourself--because it's a personal story that you only want to share with God. Not all spiritual breakthroughs need to be preached to the world.
DeleteThe Bible is a very important element in salvation, but I think that the general "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved" is not a part of your personal (by personal, I mean private) story with God. That's something you share with the world!
-- I'm sorry for my ranting.... Thanks for your input!