On Saturday evening I attended a Bible Study. We were finishing a book study that led us to
a discussion about the Lord speaking to us. As I drove home, I drove in
silence. I asked the Lord to speak to
me, tell me something profound, offer me words of wisdom, and tell me what’s
next. I sat in silence. There wasn’t a loud gong or a beautiful
butterfly. A song didn’t suddenly play
on the radio with words to guide me in a specific direction. Instead, a thought
popped into my mind. That thought will
transform this blog (and gives me heart palpitations).
Naturally, I am semi-petrified that the thought was, “Blog
about how your faith intertwines with your need to lose weight.” I tried to submerge the thought, but it
continues to resurface. Why would I try to submerge it and why am I semi-petrified?
Blogging about your weight and quest for health is relatively safe. Blogging about your faith opens you up to
persecution. Even using some of these words
make me worry that I will come across as a total nut. I was raised in a Christian home. Even when my parents were separated or
divorced, we went to church every Sunday.
I was baptized, had my first communion, was confirmed, married in a
church, and occasionally attend
church. I’m not what I think of when I
think of “those holy roller” types who would write a blog about faith and
weight.
I am just an average, female, middle class, American with an
obesity issue. I happen to be
Christian. I’m usually careful who I
share this detail with. I would prefer
people ask me questions about my faith, rather than pass judgment on how I
think or what I believe. To clear a few
things up, I believe in one God. I
believe in treating everyone with respect and loving they neighbor. You, my neighbor, may be Buddhist and prefer
to date women or men or both. I still love you.
You, my neighbor, may be atheist and vegan. I still love you. You, my neighbor, may be any
number of scenarios and I will choose to love you. Not only do I believe in respect, but I also
don’t think your faith has to look exactly like mine…or even remotely close to mine. Some of the most spiritual people I know, don’t
step foot inside a church. Some of the
most difficult, hypocritical, and any other negative adjective to describe
people I know, go to church every Sunday without fail. Attending to an organized religious event
does not somehow determine what is in your heart. Hopefully, you are either convinced that I am
not a “crazy, holy roller” which helps you to decide this is a blog worth
reading or you are now so offended that you stop here. Either way, that’s okay.
If you have decided to keep reading, welcome. Welcome, to this new journey I am embarking
on. I have no idea what is going to come, but trust that just like I was led to
revolutionize my blog, I trust that the words I need to express will naturally
come forward.
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