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Wednesday, October 21, 2009

R. E. S. P. E. C. T.

My Bible study got me thinking yesterday about respect.  What is it?  Who defines what it is?  Is it to be earned?  Can it be demanded?  What happens when my version of respect differs from your version of respect?  Who is right?

I posed the question to the cyberworld, because, you know, that's what you do in 2009.  If it's not posted on twitter of facebook, it didn't happen....




A few people weighed in with their thoughts which really weren't all that different from my own thoughts.  It didn't seem to help much or really answer the question I had. But then last night, as I finished a really good book, it hit me like a tidal wave... Respect is not something to be demanded or even earned.  Respect is something that grows in time. 

Of course there is always a certain amount of initial respect everyone deserves just for being human.  A friend commented that it's a part of living in "polite society."  I absolutely agree.  There is also a greater respect due to certain people simply because of the position they hold...the president, your boss, your parents, your husband, etc.

Submitting to another person goes hand in hand with respect.  How many times have you submitting completely and gladly to someone who you truly had no respect for?  Maybe I'm the only one, but I'll tell you what, it is not easy to do! 

I'm reminded of Paul's charge to the Ephesians to "submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Eph. 5:21) That word submit means to, well, submit, put yourself under someone else authority, to obey someone else, to give up your control to another, but the verse doesn't say you do that when the other person deserves to be submitted to or because the other person demands that you submit.  No!  You are to submit out of reverence to Christ.  It's not about how you feel or what the other person does.  It's about submitting yourself to Christ first and out of that reverence for Him you find yourself willingly and gladly submitting your control and self to another.

I think respect can work the same way.  We respect because it pleases our Lord.  That's it.  We shouldn't have to earn respect from others or be demanded to respect.  We should willingly and gladly offer our respect to another out of reverence for Christ.  In doing so we honor that person, we honor God, and we truly honor ourselves.  It's then, and only, then that we allow respect to grow in a relationship.  Out of respect will flow trust, friendship, and love.

And isn't that really all any of us wants?  To be in relationship with some one who respects us, trusts us, and loves us unconditionally?  If we want that we have to give that first.  Allow yourself to open up to others by respecting them.  Don't do it because you have to or because they  deserve it.  Do it because of your reverence for Christ.  Life is never about you.  Life has always been and always will be about Him and Him alone. 

 

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Say What You Need to Say

Disclaimer: I have no idea where this post is going to go...I'm listening to an awesome (if I do say so myself) playlist I just made for myself the other day and I'm thinking that I might just give some commentary as the songs play. Be prepared though....we're just winging it here people.

Say What You Need to Say by John Mayer
I mean come on...this just says it all. Or does it? Maybe there is more to be said. A friend of mine has a sister in law who went to the doctor the other day with a stomach ache and within the hour was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of a body riddled with cancer. They gave her days to live. She's in and out of conscienceness and her family hasn't told her yet the diagnosis. She still thinks that she'll be back to work in a week or so. My girlfriend, another girlfriend, and I were then talking about whether or not she should be told her diagnosis. All three of us felt that she should be told. We agreed that we would want to know and one of the reasons we brought us was because sometime there are things that need to be said. Sometimes it's a confession of our soul, other times it's as random as I have a wad of $50 in my sock drawer. We thought that this lady needs to have the opportunity to say what she needs to say, and listening to this song always makes me think that I need to say those things now, rather than later...

Moving along...

Walk This Way by Run DMC & Aerosmith
This song just makes me smile...I don't know why...It just does...and that's all I can say about it because I've been texting back and forth with my mom right now about nail polish. The playlist has moved on....

You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift
This whole cd is very fairytale-ish. Fun but most every song tells basically the same story. BUT she reminds me of Faith and Shania...Speaking of Shaniaaaaaa.........

Any Man of Mine by Shania Twain
How could you NOT love this song? It's pure kitchy brilliance. I need a man who knows how the story goes...

Except from the real-time txt with my mom:
Me: Glad to help...btw...I'm blogging right now & I just wrote in the post that we're txting.
Her: So I made the blog?
Me: U totally made the blog. :-D
Her: woohoo!

Speed of Sound by Coldplay
When I listen to Coldplay I feel as those I should lower the lights and turn on the air conditioner.

Won't Go Home Without You by Marroon 5
Does anyone else think this song sounds like the love child of Every Breath You Take and Barbara Ann? I love it, but I'm just saying...if Sting and the Beach Boys collaborated on an album I would imagne it sounding like this song.

Sweet Emotion by Aerosmith
My thoughts regarding this song aren't real deep. I just like it. It makes me happy and I smile when I hear it. That's all.

Big Girl (You Are Beautiful) by Mika
Ah, Mika, my husband cannot stand to hear you, but you make me laugh. It's so irreverently delicious and poppy which is precisly why The Music Man hates it. Plus I first came across this song when my girth was growing daily...it ended up that I was preggers and had a baby a few months later, but at the time I just felt huge. This song was a balm to that big girl's extended belly! Made me feel sexy and proud to be big. I still wholeheartedly agree that big girls are beautiful, pregnant or not. Rock what you've got, Ladies!

Bust Your Windows by Glee Cast
Oh my! Oh my! Oh my! This is my closet obsession...well I guess it's not so much in the closet anymore. If you have not seen Glee, run, don't walk, to your DVR and set it to record all future first run AND reruns. Or go here and watch any and all episodes anytime you want. It's pure genius! I have been known to get up and actually dance along with the show as I watch especially when I saw this. Oh my, seriously! How great is that?! Wait...did I just say that I dance along to the show out loud? Can that just be between us? Mm-hmm? Ok, thanks.

Viva La Vida by Coldplay
If I ever go skydiving, bungee jumping, climb Mt Everest, or scan the horizon from the tip of Mt Kilimanjaro, this is the song I want to have playing on my iPod in those moments. I also feel the need to do this dance when I hear this song. The beat requests demands it.

I skipped over a few songs so I could get to this...

Don't Stop Believing by Glee Cast
I won't go back into the genius of Glee...I'm going to just sit back and enjoy.

Black and Blueby Seabird
I'm running out of thought and anecdotes for these songs...maybe I should be done....

Wait one more then I'll be done, I promise...

Fidelity by Regina Spektor
I ju-uh-uh-uh-ust lo-o-o-o-o-o-o-ve this so-o-o-o-o-ng. It doesn't get be'er, be'er, be'er, bet'er, better, better than this! And the fact that my 5yo sings along to it is almost to unbearablly cute!!!

ONE more and this one is just for my Nati-Girl and The Music Man...

Little Boxes by Melvina Reynolds
The Girl knows every last word to this little ditty. Could some one please tell me what ticky tacky is? Please? It's been plaguing me for weeks now.

And now I'm done. My brain is empty and floating away...we can all say thank you to my affectionate 17 month old for sharing his congestion and sniffles. Yay!


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