Where God's Word Meets Our Mess
As countercultural as this may sound, busyness isn't a virtue. That's probably not the message that you'll get from paying attention to social media, Hollywood, or maybe even your family members and friends. But that's the message that you'll get from reading Scripture. So before you start applauding yourself for having such a busy life, consider slowing down and taking time to rest instead.
Before you roll your eyes and call me old-fashioned for saying that shacking up is sinful, know that I write these words because I want the best for you. I don’t want you to believe Satan’s lies any longer. I want you to know the hard-but-freeing truth. Satan really doesn’t want you to read this, so I challenge you to go for it.
Last week, I watched a movie called Finding You, which is based on a fiction book called There You’ll Find Me by Jenny Jones. While I appreciate that Finding You didn't have any sex scenes, I was disappointed by how unrealistic the plot was. The happy ending for the main character—Finley Sinclair—was super unrealistic. After all, what average American student actually studies abroad in Ireland, meets a handsome single actor who's smitten with her, and earns a spot in the Manhattan Conservatory of Music? None that I know of.
Now, church isn’t a place where I can chat with the friends I grew up with; it’s a place where I have to make new friends. Now, church isn’t a place where I have a regular pew and a regular crew; it’s a place where I have to pick a random seat and smile through awkward introductions. Now, church isn’t a place where I can greet visitors; it’s a place where I have to receive a grand tour so that I don’t get lost on my way to the bathroom. So as a church visitor who’s quite introverted, here are three things that I’d like to tell regulars at the churches I visit.
So I have this problem—a problem of pointless pursuits. Pointless pursuits have kind of been the theme of my life, at least in the last few years. I haven’t pursued empty things because people failed to warn me about the consequences. Ignorance wasn’t the issue. My stubbornness was.
The year 2020 was a year of virtual everything—meetings, classes, conferences, church services, baby showers, bridal showers, funerals, performances, and more. I hadn't done much video chatting before 2020, but all of a sudden, video chatting became the new normal. While it's great for connecting with friends and family members who live far away, it can never replace in-person interactions and relationships.
Disappointment hit you harder than you expected. You didn't realize that crushed expectations could cause such deep sadness. But in this moment, you genuinely can't remember the last time you experienced as much pain as you're experiencing now.
You probably realize that your eating disorder not only damaged your body but also damaged your relationships. Yet you're still tempted to give into eating disorder behaviors again. My life—and perhaps yours as well—has been forever changed because I gave up everything to pursue the "perfect" body.
You hear all the cheery greetings. You read them on cards, see them on decorations, and hear them in songs. And you feel all the emotions—both good and bad—that are attached to them.
Tizzie's Tidbits of Truth 