I enjoy writing a lot. Articulating the things that float around my soupy brain into coherent thought is an immensely valuable process that I don't engage in nearly enough. I feel that my ability to express has somewhat diminished; that, more than occasionally, my opinions and beliefs on a number of subjects and issues are not actually founded on readily presentable reasons. Writing about things always helps me get my thoughts and feelings in order.
This blog is an attempt to combat my deficiency in self-expression. I want to write about a lot of things. I want to better understand my own feelings and convictions about music, theology, filmmaking, relationships, social issues, video games, evangelism, family dynamics, church leadership, politics, etc… And hopefully start a few good discussions along the way. I think it will be a benefit to me, but my hope is that the benefit doesn't stop there. If I am thinking with more clarity and perspective in my day to day life, that will, in one way or another, manifest itself in attitudes and actions that will extend out to my family, my friends, my church and my God in mostly favorable ways.
I want to elaborate a bit more on the perspective that I wish to grow in. When I am most attuned spiritually and relationally is when I am seeing things in perspective. This isn't a consistent thing for me at all, but I do get these moments of clarity that are often times inspired by some external input, like a comment by a friend or a line in a book or a sermon. These are the moments where I come to see all of the elements in my life in proper relation to one another, accurately proportioned and contrasted. Priorities line up, needless sinful things diminish in desirability and the fruit of the spirit seemingly becomes more attainable because I see everything (well, surely not everything) as it actually is.
All of this comes down to the fact that in these moments of clarity, for just an instant, I see God as He actually is, and He certainly is the great standard-setter, the One whom everything else is measured by. If you want perspective, look to God. Look to His attributes, His character, the things He has done, the promises He has made. Look to Him to understand how you should more accurately view yourself. Surely you will come to two very extreme conclusions. You will be utterly shattered by how seemingly small, insignificant and worthless you are compared to Him, but then you will be simply awed by how much worth you seem to have in His eyes, how much He unconditionally, uncompromisingly loves you. And this perspective is not just useful for self-evaluation, but for bettering one's entire worldview.
As we attempt to "do life right," being the fragile, easily distracted, weary people that we are, perspective is everything. We need but just look into the things that we question, investigate our own beliefs and convictions, and most importantly, look to the almighty, triune God. In this we may, in small but precious portions, understand and know Him, and therefore everything else, better. This blog is my own attempt to do these things, for the sake of my own perspective on things big and small. Thanks for reading.
