Sam's Town

Submitted by my friend Sam...and then thank Sam for his honesty that should remind you that you're not alone.

19 September 2011

What is it about tragedy that makes us honest with God? I wish I knew. But every time I experience some kind of set back, I seem to see God more clearly than ever before. And while this is all fine and good, a part of me hates myself for it. I mean…why now? Why not back then, when I was swimming in blessings, in His grace? He gives me all I need and more, and even though I call myself a warrior for him, I always end up defecting to the other side. I forsake Him and try to hold my own. I soak up the world for a while and delude myself into think that this is it. But then the rains come.

I had a bad day today. The worst in a while, actually. I prayed and was more honest with God than I had been in months. And even though I loved the feeling of His arms supporting me, I couldn’t help but grimace at my own lack of faith. That’s not the kind of love He deserves. He deserves SO MUCH MORE.

I want to love God the way we all should – proportionate to His love for us. But I know that’s impossible! It’s silly to even say it. To love God as much as He loves you is like trying to climb to the moon. Or like an infant trying to raise its parent. Or like…breathing underwater, forever. It simply can’t be done.

If it takes tragedy to bring me as close to God as I was today, bring on the rain. But I’d rather just learn to love Him right. So that’s gonna be my next few months, learning to love better. I’m not gonna try it by myself either. I’m going to seek others, surround myself with more of His children and love them better too. I guarantee I will screw up again and again but as long as He keeps being my Father, I’m gonna try my damnedest to be His son, in good times and bad.

-Sam

Fashion saves lives.

Our Etsy shop is reopened! You'll see a lot more styles being added over the next few days (thanks Becca!) Click here to start saving lives.

For every pair of earrings you buy, we send half of the money to World Vision to support their work in Ethiopia. Our goal is to watch the money you donate transform the lives in a specific area of the world. We are working with World Vision over the next few weeks to get status reports on current projects and ways we can support them. Once we have that specific info, you will see it here! To see what World Vision is doing in Ethiopia, click here.

GCM originally developed a relationship with the country of Ethiopia through the Experience: AIDS project that came to the Cary YMCA. To see that exhibit, click here.

So go ahead and shop! Be fashionable and know that you are making a big difference and starting a relationship with Ethiopia!
-Liz

Double Rainbow

So I was on a group kayaking jaunt for our work retreat yesterday. It was super quiet and calm on the sound, and we were paddling through grassy, marsh areas. Beautiful weather. Blue skies.

My co-worker was on a boat to my left and said "When I look at this, I can't believe that people don't think there is someone behind the design of the world, that we are just an accident and the world just happened to come together like this."

My audible response was "I think it's easier for people to just believe it's 'Mother Nature.'"

So then, my internal monologue kicked in. If we explain the beauty of the world by saying it's Mother Nature or pure environmental beauty, then we don't have to really respond. We can just admire the beauty from afar, when we want, and then we can walk away, when we want. We can forget. We can remain unchanged. We can do whatever we want.

But if we explain the beauty of the world by saying that there is a Creator that made this for ME to enjoy, well then, I have to respond. Think of it as the most elaborate, expensive, impossible gift that anyone has ever given you. Impossible to repay, impossible to forget, impossible to ignore. A gift that changes everything. A gift that lasts your whole life and then some. A gift that you didn't deserve, but it's yours to take.

But you have to take it.

See, the thing with God is, we can't remain unchanged. Otherwise we never accepted the gift at all. Do you see God in your life? Do you see him in people? Do you notice him trying to get your attention in nature? In a sunset or a rainstorm? If you look for him, you'll see him. And if you look for him tomorrow, you'll find him a thousand different ways.

The double rainbow guy was right. Oh my God.