So, I bought this beautiful new journal. I'm not much of a writer and my spelling and penmanship are atrocious (I spell checked that one). Despite my literary shortcomings, I bought this journal.
Today, being the day after Valentine's Day, I sit in the Harbor House Café in Sunset Beach, CA. Mark this as Day #1 of my journey along some undefined road on my search of only God knows what. Given the theme of the
love monthand the fact that I'm a 20-something female, my recent thoughts have been consumed with ideals, desires, longings, fears, etc. of (what else?) men. Oy ve!
So, I bought this beautiful journal with hopes that one day I'd write something truly profound. Maybe I'll write something that will rock the minds of 20-somethings in the early 2000's. Yet, as I continue to sip coffee in this chaotic café, waiting for my intellectual revolution to strike, my mind is still consumed with the ideals of a wonderful, handsome, man. Geesh.
I've expressed to a few people that with the amount of time and energy that I've put into thinking about men and relationships, I could have used similar intellectual efforts into thinking up something productive. For instance, I could have spent the same efforts thinking up a solution to world hunger, and probably would have solved it some time last week.
I really despise the fact that my thought life is devoted to thinking about relationships with the opposite sex, or rather at the moment, my lack there of. I loathe the idea that I seriously could accomplish something grand if I wasn't wasting precious oxygen and glucose for trivial, juvenile purposes.
Brittany Stringfellow Otey tells me that I'm
task age appropriate, which is slightly comforting. But, I don't want to use my quest through Erikson's
Intimacy & Solidarity vs. Isolation stageas an excuse for my thoughts being so consumed. Should I be feeling guilty? If what BSO & Erikson say is true, then there is a possibility that I've been designed to have these desires for a husband. I've been under the impression that I need to be 100% satisfied with being alone, just me and the big G-O-D. Quite possibly however, I could be perfectly normal & appropriate in my longing for a partner. Is this what Christ has planned for me? Do I not feel 100% complete until I'm with the one God have in store for me? At what point can these thoughts go too far? What is too consuming? Where is that line, have I crossed it?
My room mate Anna & I are starting a book entitled Every Woman's Battle. It addresses issues surrounding emotional and sexual purity. Here's the opening verse:
You stumble day & night… My people are destroyed from lack of Knowledge.– Hosea 4:5-6
I guess I better start studying.
One huge lesson I'm learning… Keeping my thoughts and desires in check!
The one who sows to please [her] sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction.–Galatians 6:8
But each one is tempted when, by [her] own evil desires, [she] is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire is conceived, it gives birth to sin; & sin; when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.–James 1:14-15
Ok, so according to Shannon Ethridge, sowing seeds of emotional & mental compromise leads to reaping a harvest of relational destruction. Guilty!
Some wisdom from Paul,
So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!... Therefore, prepare your mind for action; be self-controlled… Do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written 'Be holy, because I am holy',…Among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality.-1Corinthians 10:12; 1Peter 1:13-16; Ephesians 5:3
Ethridge mentions that a life of
balance & integrityconsists of perfect balance between physical, mental, emotional & spiritual dimensions of our being. Ok, thank you for giving validity to the physical aspect of women's needs. Now, I have a challenge here! For those of us
waitinguntil marriage, it sounds to me that a truly balanced life is really hard to achieve without a spouse. Ok, I understand that I need to make every effort to let God meet these needs. And, I know I need to guard my body, mind, heart & spirit for my husband. So, how do I find this perfect balance before marriage? Is my only hope for true balance and fulfillment to be found in a continued pursuit of Christ with a husband? Am I incomplete without my mate or, is he compliment to completeness? I'm beginning to not understand my own questions… But here's another… To what extent can I allow myself to connect with a man in these areas before marriage? I know the physical answer is a bit more obvious, but what about the mental, emotional and spiritual? Now, I have a headache. I'll think about these questions later.
Ok, honesty time… One of my biggest struggles is feeling a need to have attention from guys. Even if I don't want to
be with him, I still want his attention. It's a totally unhealthy, common struggle among women. I really need this out of my heart. Ok, so maybe I can try to go a bit more un-noticed. Now, I don't mean dressing like and old maid & hiding in dark corners. But a more modest look would help. And, I really don't need to go around introducing myself to men. If they want to meet me, I should let them take the first step (I thought I already knew this one, but I'm lame and neglected to actually practice it). I'll try it out for awhile. After all, it's much easier to resist eating chocolate cake when you're not sitting right in front of it.
I think my priorities are out of whack. Have I forgotten the greatest commandment?
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it; Love your neighbor as yourself.–Matthew 22:37-40
Eh, what's the big deal? It's just silly thoughts and dreams, right? Wrong! Check out what Paul has to say,
Everything is permissible, -but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible –but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.1Corinthians 10:23-24
In my search for
whatever, or on my journey of
I have no idea, I need to constantly keep the best interest of other's in mind. So, no matter how cute he is, smooth talking, or begging me to
kiss him like I mean it… if I'm not benefiting him in a righteous way, it's best to keep my distance. And, as far as the modest dressing goes, it's going to help build my guy friends up a whole lot more than the miniskirts and plunging neck lines. (Sorry, guys… I've not been too helpful in the past). And as for my thoughts and silly dreams… Do they honor others, or just meet the needs of my own dysfunctional cravings? Geesh! This figuring out life stuff is hard!
Application pleeeeeeeeeeeeeease!
Ok, Goal Setting time!!
~Keep in check: thoughts, words, emotions, & actions.
~Reflect sincere love for God, others & myself (in that order!!)
~Don't dress to seek male attention in a seductive manner. (As I'm writing this one I notice the wandering eyes of the guys at the table across from me follow a couple miniskirts).
~Live by standards of love & set a good example in my life.
Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body [& my mind] & make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.-1Corinthians 9:26-27
~Don't compare my physical appearance with other women.
~Work on my relationships with my "sisters".
~Work on my Heart!!!
The good [woman] brings good things out of the good stored up in [her] heart, and the evil [woman] brings evil things out of the evil stored up in [her] heart.-Luke 6:45
~Resist temptation!
Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and strangers of this world, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul.-1Peter 2:11
Friday 2/16/2007 12:46am... still @ the cafe
A few final treasures as I start to realize the intense work & energy that I need to put in toward pursuing intimacy with God, not another man.
Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?–Psalm 24:3-4
Who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and pure heart.
Who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.
–Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- His good, pleasing and perfect will.
I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self- discipline.-2Timothy 1:7
