I Need to Stop Looking Away...

It is amazing how God can bring you to your knees...

Our new series at church is titled "Outcasts". I was sitting there - thinking that I am a pretty good person. I really am tolerant, I am open, and I accept people as they are. I try very hard to not judge people. It was an interesting message.

And then, the pastor asked, "Do any of you watch Dick Clark on New Year's Eve?" And I immediately thought - yes, and it's totally heart-wrenching to see him now. And that's exactly the point. Here is Dick Clark who is happy to be on the show - to do what he has always done. He isn't ashamed that he is no longer in his prime, his face ravaged by the affects of a stroke. He puts himself in front of the camera, and I think, he does it through God's guidance as a dare for Christians to not look away.

I am guilty of looking away. I mostly do it when I'm watching tv. When someone is about to make a complete fool of themselves, I turn the channel really quick so I don't have to watch. It just makes me cringe... and I'll be honest, I said to my mom that I thought Dick Clark should call it quits.

And, as I sit here typing this, I have to call attention to something else. I need to be honest.

At my school, I have been in the hall with the extended resource kids for two years. They travel down the hall quite often. I do say hello to most of them, but there is one little girl who laughs, who crys, and does these things LOUDLY. I will admit that I get a little annoyed. And it's not at her, it's that the workers with her don't help her be more quiet.

But, if I'm honest with myself - I need to realize that my "tolerance level" for this particular situation is low.

And how did I get to this point? Because of Carlos's post - his story brought me to tears.

I am amazed by God's power to reach me in new, profound ways. I can't trust my head, but must rely on him to teach lessons to be a better person. I am so thankful. Tomorrow, I'm going to go hang out with this little girl during my prep time.

~Kendra