Monday, 14 August 2006

Shallower than a hotel pool...

I'll just say it, this summer has been pretty crazy as far as they come. Life at the resort is always interesting. Assisting in elementary Sunday School is an adventure. Europe was exciting in some way every single day, without fail. The trip to Plainfield for Joanna and Steven's wedding was definitely a blast, and the time with family here from New Jersey has been nothing short of insane every minute. Only now will things go back to "normal" before I leave for Hope again (junior year?! yikes!).

Having family visit was taxing. We had just come home from Europe on a Sunday, I left that next Friday morning, didn't come home until Sunday evening, and then was kicked out of my room for five nights the next Wednesday. Between the marathon canoe ride on the PM River, working short days, and entertaining my three cousins until 11:30 every night doing this or that, I was exhausted.

As I lay in my makeshift bed in the living room, resenting all that I had to "sacrifice" to make room for our visitors, I realized how un-Christian I was acting. I have plenty to be thankful for; I live in a decent-sized house with my family including my own room with a big, comfy bed to sleep in. Surely I could give it up for a few nights for my own flesh and blood because I love them. When Jesus came to earth to save humanity from their sins, no one could even give Him a decent bed to sleep in when He was born. Yet later He would give His life for everyone, including those people who didn't give Him that bed.

I claim to call myself a Christian, accepting the gift Jesus gave me: the gift of salvation, of having my sins washed away by Him, accepting the ultimate sacrifice He made, and thus being redeemed in the Heavenly Father's eyes. As I was reminded by the myriad crucifixes in all the Catholic churches in Austria and Germany, Jesus held nothing back. He gave us His own life. The Protestant churches are justified in focusing on the risen Christ, rather than the dying Christ. He IS alive, not dead or dying on the cross anymore. However, sometimes we forget in focusing on the risen aspect that He gave us the greatest gift He COULD give, which was His life.

The relatives are gone now. They left early this morning, jumped on a couple of those same cigar planes that I hated so much and made it back home with my aunt and their own pets in New Jersey. One of my cousins even called to let us know they had arrived safely. I can sleep in my bed again. I only hope that I didn't completely demolish any witness I made as a Christian to them with my selfish attitude.

Currently Reading Through Wolf's Eyes (Wolf, Book 1) By Jane Lindskold see related

Comments(1)

Go Flying Dutchmen! Hope College is the best my parents went there!

Later

m.l.c.

marion_christensen