This past Fall semester, I took an autobiographics course, where we had to write an autoethnography. For my autoethnography, I talked about family history and through the way that I crafted my work, things were revealed about me. The overt message was that family is a core part of being while the subtle message was that I enjoy the grey areas that history often leaves behind.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV
Similar to my autoethnography, I see not only what God tell us in the Bible but how He tells us. While thinking about the above verse, it struck me that God could have told the author of Hebrews 12 to write, “And let us not run with fatigue the race marked out for us, neglecting to fix our eyes on Jesus…”, instead. However, the message of running the race of life with endurance is the same, whether negative or affirmative language is used, yet God often chooses the affirmative.
Using affirmative, positive language reveals a lot about a person’s character, personality and their overall outlook on life. From the Bible, we can be sure that God is consistently thinking beyond this world and into greater, more heavenly works. Instead of a list of “not-to-do’s”, we are given a list of “to-do’s”, which is less daunting and more encouraging when we have those ‘off days’.
No matter how bad it looks or even if it is projected to worsen, remember that we walk by faith and not by sight, for physical things are subject to change at any moment. Also, it isn’t in God’s Nature to be sad and gloomy so we can’t be offended when He declines to join our pity-parties 🙂 !
Weekend Wellness Tip
Until Midweek Musings,
