Input and Output

 

            There are many different metaphors that can be used to communicate the outcome from what you put into yourself. Food is a very good example of this, if you eat fast food, highly processed foods, soda, high salt and high fat foods, you will not enjoy a body that is healthy, that is strong, or that will give you the energy you need to successfully reach your desired goals. Your diet should not be based on ease, on simplicity, or on whatever is the least expensive. Pursue and take into yourself that which will give you nutrition, strength, and all of the vitamins, fiber, oils, and quality that will make you healthy.

               If you find yourself spending most of your time being distracted by social media, by mindless and silly entertainment, it would be wise to make positive changes to your mental diet, which will give you the strength you need to achieve your goals. Instead of snacking, doom scrolling, or watching numberless videos online, go outside, enjoy the fresh air, walk for a few miles each day and spend time interacting with people of good character.

               A good pattern to develop for your use of time and energy can be found by documenting how you spend your time, how you spend your money, and with whom you interact. Be diligent in documenting what you do with your time, choose a notebook devoted solely to recording your activities and use of time. Be faithful in what you take into your body in terms of diet, what you take into your mind in terms of entertainment, and what you spend your free time thinking about.

               After documenting these things for at least a month, be strong and brave enough to share your findings with someone who is older, wiser, and more responsible than you, so as to receive input from them. Do not allow pride to control your path forward, instead be willing to make changes in your use of time, in whatever you take into yourself, and be willing to become better, stronger, and wiser than you are at this moment. Humility is one of the best attitudes to take on, it is when you realize that you need to become someone better and wiser than life will improve.

A Path Where Light Doesn't End

 

When someone reaches their teenage years, decisions need to be made and hopefully when one finds themself in this situation, they will seek input from others, knowing that the man who has only himself as a teacher will be bound to make mistakes. Every person moves out of one social circle and into another one, and will find himself in multiple social circles, interacting with many different types of people. Unfortunately, everyone we meet will not necessarily be honest about their response to you, their opinion of you, and will put themselves first rather than offer something of value to help you improve.

When someone is walking in the darkness, he may stumble, he may accidentally drive his toe into a piece of furniture, or he may step on something that remained obscure because of the darkness. There is very little worse than stepping on a Lego while wearing socks or being barefoot. The one who is wise will seek guidance from others, will pursue a path that is well lit, and that will lead to love, peace, joy, and glory.

It is a sad reality that some people will choose to engage in the use of substances that will negatively influence their ability to think clearly and make good choices. In very much the same way, some people will follow input and direction from others who lack wisdom, who lack experience and if one views the quality of their life, one can see that their decisions have only led to failure and confusion.

Find the path that will lead to love, peace, joy, and success. Unless you have immersed yourself in seeking knowledge, seeking wisdom, and seeking experience, don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can figure it out on your own. There have been thousands and thousands of people all throughout history from whom we can learn, who we can imitate, and who create a great example for us to follow.

One does not look to others who have declined into a state of abject failure, poverty, and suffering. Find those who exhibit wise choices, live a good life, and pursue a lifestyle that is not focused on comfort and wealth. Love others like you love yourself.

Pretending Everything is Alright

 

            Social interaction is a normal part of everyday life. We see friends, we see relatives, we see acquaintances and neighbors make decisions that impact themselves and impact others. Sometimes those decisions are made for all the wrong reasons, oftentimes those decisions come from a foundation of selfishness and greed.

               Looking in from the outside, we can see that one of these people look back and regret the choices they have made, and see the consequences of those decisions. Aside from self-deception, those of us who are watching from a distance can see that these people are simply pretending like everything is good, alright, and acceptable.

               There are at least two responses to situations like this, one, we can be critical, we can be judgmental, and we can condemn them for being focused only on their own desires without concern for the impact of their decisions upon others. Two, we can remain silent and watch them decline into despair and regret, knowing that any words we offer will be rejected.

               The imagination is a terrible thing; everyone imagines a possible reality in which all of their problems disappear and are resolved by the promises that someone else made to them. Too many people think of themselves as flawless, wise, and on a path that will lead to happiness and fulfillment. The person who begins down a path toward an imaginary end, will one day realize that they made multiple bad choices, that they burned bridges that cannot be repaired with a goal of satisfying themselves while ignoring others.

A Vessel Void of Value

 

            If someone takes a few minutes and searches through their home, they will find a great number of containers that are designed to hold specific things, and other vessels that you would only use in certain situations and not for storing other things. We see an example of this throughout the Old Testament; some things were designed and identified to be used only for holy use and not for common use.

               The tabernacle that was designed by God and given to the people of Israel to be used during worship and sacrifice could only be used for religious purposes. The ark of the covenant was not even to be touched by human hands and was only for containing the written law, Aaron’s rod that budded, and was topped by two golden angels.

               We have a similar situation in the New Testament regarding the Virgin Mary; YHWH sent the angel Gabriel to communicate the message that she was chosen to be the vessel for bringing about the incarnation of the Son of God. Just like one would not use containers in one’s kitchen for holding unclean items but only for food items.

               I encourage everyone reading this brief collection of thoughts to consider your own life, and what you put in your heart and mind. You need to understand that if you have been baptized into the people of God, you are no longer your own and should only be taking into yourself those things that are holy and will identify you as different from the culture around you.

               Sometimes it is a sad reality that some people will make the decision to label themselves as a follower of Christ, but then live a life that is not holy, pure, or righteous. What kind of vessel are you? Are you filled with and contain only those things that are holy, or do you allow corruption, perversion, and hatred within yourself? Work hard to be faithful to your claims about yourself and be a vessel used only for those things of value.