Life takes courage...
A few years ago my son, Graydon, won an award at his school for most improved student. He was presented a plaque and a little medal for his accomplishments. Shortly afterwards he asked me if I had ever received an award for anything. No, I replied, not that I could ever recall in my entire life. Here, you can have this, as he handed me his little medal. I told him no but he insisted. I was grateful for his act of kindness but to be honest, it didn’t have much impact on me at the time.
It was only a couple of years later when I was in a dark time in my life that I came across that little metal in my bedroom nightstand. I was losing my courage to deal with life. Things were not going as planned. That award, Graydon passed on to me, represented his love and confidence in me as his father.
Life takes courage. At times when we expect it, like when we lose someone we love, or when we make the critical decision to change careers or relationships. And life takes courage, still, in those moments that, although smaller, define who we are. When we stand up for injustice, or finally find our voice after what seemed like years of searching for it. We feel victorious because we're no longer rendered silent.
But maybe, unlike me, courage isn't what you need right now. Maybe you need love, or joy, or hope, or laughter. Or maybe you just need a little medal to remind yourself every day just how beautiful you are. Nevermind those folks who will say that's vain. Just tell them it's part of your therapy and hand them a medal.
Okay, maybe not that kind of counter-culture. I have something a little different in mind.
When I think about counter-cultural stuff, I think about what Jesus was doing when he walked the earth. Jesus was not only counter-cultural—He was transcultural calling us to transform our culture rather than blending into it. How do we transform our culture? I think it begins with you and I on a personal level first.
As we struggle with our hurts, habits, and hang-ups, it is important to remember we are a work in progress. God doesn't expect you to be perfect; he knows you will make mistakes. Don’t be too hard on yourself.
Spiritual maturity is neither instantaneous nor automatic; it is a gradual, progressive development that will take the rest of your life as God helps us make healing choices.
A simple truth to remember is that God is far more interested in building our character than he is anything else. In other words, God is interested in who you are. For instance, he’s much more concerned about your character than your career, because you will take your character into eternity, but not your career. Our character is developed by walking in love.
Real love is counter-cultural.
The scripture says, “Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out…Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you” (Romans 12:2 MSG).
You and I must make personal choices that are counter-cultural. These kinds of healing choices will protect us from other forces trying to mold us into their image. Instead of choices based on selfishness we need to choose based on love.
What decision in the near future do you need to make?
Will you make that decision from a motive of love?
