bears and birkenstocks.

Love.
Joy.
Peace.
Patience.
Kindness.
Goodness.
Faithfulness.
Gentleness.
Self-control.

Against such things there is no law.


There must be a way to live and breath and take part in this culture--or rather, this society of many different cultures--without imbibing in the general decadence which completely defies the above. It is no secret to myself that if we as a people would practice even half of those on the regular basis then the world would be a much better place. And yet the world is not a much better place, and even finds itself day by day becoming more painful.

That is why i am most afraid of myself. I am afraid of the part of me that can know the right answers to the questions that need answering most, and yet still willingly be a person who defies love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control.

For the Christian, there is a constant battle between the self that existed from the womb in a state of sin and shame and the self God redeemed with the death of His only son Jesus. There are very real sides and real consequences for these battles that take place in front of computers, with headphones, in our minds, with our words, in the dark, around him, but not around her, and all in the sight of Jesus. The side which seeks instant gratification is very loud and hard to ignore. It is the side which was the only side until you allowed Jesus to make you new. It is the side which says that "I" am more important. "My" self is greater. Than anything. Than anyone. It says image is everything. It is the most professional and effective of makeups, because it works from the outside in, changing nothing of your character or disposition. It is the side which is threatened and jealous and angry and impure and unjust and unfair and exploitative and sexually corrupted and intellectually fooled and emotionally blinded and spiritually wasted, but which all the while feels legitimately good. To say it doesn't feel good would be to lie to yourself. It is precisely because it feels good that we so often succumb to it. And it is precisely because it feels good that it isn't enough.

Because we weren't made for something so simple and temporary as feeling good.

Love and Joy and Peace and the rest--the very characteristics and attributes of God Himself--they are the things that are indicative of the person who has found that thing beyond feeling good. That place where we all yearn to be when we find ourselves in the emptiness of a high that is now low. They are the traits and actions which naturally flow from the person who has realized that instant gratification becomes long-term pain and hurt. They are the desires of a person who finds that giving in to that which screams at us loudest ultimately drains us and does not fill. But most importantly, most integrally, Gentleness and Patience and Kindness and Goodness become descriptive of the person who realizes that they must sacrifice themselves in order to be given back a life which is beyond feeling good. It is beyond achievement and success. It is beyond the rational and logical.

We as Christians have life because of what Jesus did on the cross and in His resurrection. The Spirit of God actually lives inside of us. But He doesn't just take over and do His thing; we must decide to give Him control. That is the only way that His fruit will ever become evident in our lives. It is the only way that change and hope and meaning will invade us and the world around us. We must allow Him to guide our steps and direct our plans. He alone can positively impact the way we view others and how we see ourselves. And if we allow Him to fight for us, then our battles will always be won.

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

Colossians 3:1-17