As many of you probably know, I "prefer a vegan diet." Eating healthy, and avoiding most dairy and meat is a choice that I made when confronted with some truths about the consequences of what you eat. It has also been reenforced by learning about the effects of mass producing cows, chickens, pigs, etc. in the most cost-effective, as well as morally, dietary, and socially upsetting, manners.
Previous to my "conversion" I ate like a normal American. Perhaps a bit healthier, with salads and vitamin supplements, but pretty normal. It was out of a conviction to live a better, healthier life, and a responsibility to friends and family, as well as my God, to take care of what I've been given responsibility over, and conduct myself in a way that promotes quality and quantity of life. Like I said, it was a conviction, and following through with the choices I made required sacrifice in addition to desire and encouragement. But there was something new and fresh in my decision. I despised the poisons offered me, and rejected them at nearly every opportunity, despite the temptation. I trained my body and my mind to think and expect differently, but it was all fueled by an active desire to do what is right, and help inspire others to do the same.
The funny thing about a change like that is, it soon loses its passion, and turns common place. It becomes about rules you've set for your mind and body, rather than a desire for "what is best." I no longer detest the idea of hydrogenated corn syrup or the chlorine in our drinking water. I do my best to not partake of such things, but there's less conviction to it; it is simply the new norm.
I've also noticed a flexibility to consume the forbidden. My mental military is like an army who has lost the vision of their purpose, through their uneventful stationing in a foreign land. The battles that used to be my mind verses my eyes and tastebuds has become my mind, eyes, and tastebuds teaming up against my stomach. I don't deny myself the sugary foods because I know the harm they will do me (if I deny them at all), I do so because I know my stomach will exact revenge.
So although I eat in a good, similar fashion to when I started, something is certainly different and amiss.
It amazes me how it can be a similar series coming from my spirit and faith.
There are times I will reevaluate my faith and with conviction I will make decisions of what I need to add and what I need to exclude from how I live. Passion fills me and enables me to carry out these Godly desires with respect for God, myself, and others. I feel like I've found a Truth that matters and I want to show it to the world through life.
But once again, all too soon I lose sight of why I do what I do. It becomes for the sake of the deed itself rather than the spirit of righteousness, godliness, and repentance. When Christianity becomes a passive lifestyle I think that's a dangerous place to be. I also think it's an easy place to find. We put a lot of emphasis on how we live (what we do and don't do because of our faith), but none of that means anything if it is not propelled by a spirit of desire for the Kingdom of God. Without that drive of love for the good, we are but a clanging cymbal.
How do we rejuvenate our apathetic following of our prior convictions?
That's where our relationships come in. Our relationships as the church and our relationship with Jesus.
Meeting with others who share our faith, who may not be in a place of apathy, but a place of passion, can help spark your spirit. Inspiration confronting unsatisfaction brings the heart and rational mind face to face, resulting in reflectional hope for more.
Meeting with Jesus, in your prayer time and Bible reading, gives the opportunity to get the same inspiration, reflection, and hope. I believe in this time you will be stretched too. New aspirations, taking things to the next level, helps to reinvigorate the spirit to step up to the challenge, realizing the calling.
Realize the calling. Remember why you live the way you do. Confront your life with the love, purpose, and intentionality Christ displayed in his life and death. Fathom the responsibility placed upon you as his disciple. Listen to his voice. Bring about the Kingdom by encouraging Truth in every facet of your life.
Rinse and Repeat.
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