Not of this world

These last few weeks I have been thinking a lot about my faith and how we as Christians are often put into a tug-a-war between the secular world and the world of Christ.  Sometimes I find myself desiring to fit in with the secular world.  Wanting not to be a misfit.  It often seems easier to follow the popular view on life, because if you don't you are considered by some people to be hateful, or intollerant, or judgemental, or mean spirited, or ignorant, or greedy, the list goes on.  Those are all titles that I know in my heart do not define me..at least most of the time (I hope).

 I often catch myself feeling this way, and then I feel God reminding me that the only place I need to fit in is in His world of Love, Compassion, Understanding, Life, Peace, Sacrifice, Joy, and Selflessness.  Any goodness I have in me comes from Him.  My desire to love others, to bring joy to others, to bring comfort to those who are down, etc comes from my desire to serve my God. All I want to do is follow Him.  I want to live the life he orginally wrote out for me.

So instead of following the popular idealogies, I have decide to strive to live for Christ's.  I believe Christ is the best example of love, compassion, understanding and truth.  You see, the secular world's ideologies have changed, but Christ's have stayed the same.   Truth doesn't need to change. 

I am often told I seem happy almost all the time.  This is not because I have extra happy hormones...it is because I have the Joy of Christ in my heart.  When I feel distant from him, I see myself becoming mildy depressed, much more selfish, judgemental, etc.  But when I strive to live for Him I can't help but want to bring a smile onto anothers face and following Christ's commandment to Love God and Love your neighbor come a lot easier. 

So in conclusion, I leave you with a song that has really spoken to me lately.  This song reminds me that I am not of this world, but instead a soul, sent by God to love unconditionally, forgive unconditionally, and to bring the Joy and Truth of Christ to the world.  This song also reminds me that this world is not the end.  There is something much better to come and I will do my absolute best to get there.  I truly believe that path is where I belong. So yes, I may see things differently than a lot of those around me, but that is because I am trying to see things through Christ's eyes, through eyes of pure love.