Embrace the paradox

In Chapter 1 of The End of Me, Kyle Idleman asserts the plain truth is “as much as we fight it, we long for the freedom to admit we’re broken.”  We don’t, however, consciously realize our need to do it.  While that lack of realization is true for each of us, it’s most certainly true for those people who least realize it.

Sociologist Brene Brown writes that all of us are one step away from being one of “those people”:

“. . . ‘those people’- the ones we don’t trust, the ones we pity, the ones we don’t let our children play with, the ones bad things happen to, the ones we don’t want living next door.”

Pastor Idleman adds that most of us know deep down we’ve got a lot of pieces that never seem to get mended, yet we go to great lengths to avoid honestly embracing of our condition.  He states we’ve become the masters of illusion, experts at covering pain, and partakers of loneliness.

In our culture, brokenness is a  hard sell.  Few, if any, people would pay to attend a seminar helping them to experience brokenness.  Kyle concludes:

“Brokenness . . . is, however, the one hope Jesus holds out for us, the inside-out, upside-down way that is somehow the only path that ultimately is right side up.  Embrace the paradox: brokenness is the way to wholeness.”

Today’s question: How have you been able to embrace the paradox that brokenness is the way to wholeness?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “Flaws are openings”

 

Embrace the paradox

Secure in Christ

Today Sara Horn concludes her discussion of Seven Habits of Highly Resentful People in Chapter 2 of How Can I Possibly Forgive?.

3.  A highly resentful person is constantly disappointed by others and by life in general.  Many of the disappointments we face in life are legitimate and hurtful.  However, resentment can take hold of us when we place higher expectations on someone or something than warranted.

4.  A highly resentful person is dissatisfied with some area of her life, if not several.  Dissatisfied people complain about what’s not right in their life or what they wish would change, but are unwilling to put forth the effort necessary to make those changes.  They play the blame game- it’s always the fault of someone else.  These habits should cue us that wholeness only comes from Christ.

5.  A highly resentful person avoids spending time with God.  When God is active and working in our heart, there is no room for a resentful spirit to reside.  We must be intentional in spending time in God’s Word or talking with Him.

6.  A highly resentful person is quick to get angry.  Sara states that “resentment is a breeding ground for bad tempers.”  Ecclesiastes 7:9 implores us: “Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.”

7.  A highly resentful person hangs on to pride.  Here self-worth becomes caught up in our accomplishments.  If, in our eyes, someone else does something better, we diminish our value in response.  Sara states: “Pride starts when insecurity peaks.  Be secure in Christ.”

Today’s question: Which of the Seven Habits of Highly Resentful People characterize you following your vocation loss?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “Highly Forgiving People”

Secure in Christ