Have you ever considered how often we create life experiences through our way of thinking?
From time to time I like to dust off the word repentance. To repent means to change how we see things.
If I am angry at a family member, it is my choice to repent. This means that I can choose how I see them and as a result of a positive decision, healing can take place.
In a strange twist of irony, repentance is empowering because it allows us to create a life more on our terms than having it be dictated by someone else’s ignorance. I will give you an example.
In my years working with American Indians, often times people from other races or cultures would make remarks out of ignorance that could be quite hurtful. On one occasion, I witnessed a white man say to a young woman, “Why do you hang around those Indians all the time?”
Her response was, “Well, I am Indian!” Though the man’s comments might seem innocent enough at first glance, the implication was that hanging around those Indians was not a favorable activity.
Of course, the young woman was miffed at the comment but later told me, “This was a great opportunity for a teaching moment.” She told the man in a very holy and diplomatic way that his comment was offensive; and, he apologized!
To repent was to make the choice to turn this situation from a defensive assault to a teaching moment that brought about healing. I suspect the man learned a valuable lesson that hopefully would go on to enhance his life.
Again, our thoughts can create and modify our life’s experiences. Jesus was really big on attitude adjustments.
Early in Jesus’ preaching career, he quoted the prophet Isaiah as saying, “The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned (Matthew 4:16 NIV).”
He then followed by saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near (Matthew 4:17b NIV).”
In other words, move out of darkness by searching for the light! Living in the land of the shadow of death is a choice.
Choose the option of a teaching moment over a retaliatory response. Change your mind about how you see life and you can begin to taste the kingdom of heaven.
Furthermore, it pays us to understand that the Holy Spirit moves out ahead of us. Once we choose the path of light, the full resources of heaven will come to meet us.
And, the news gets even better! God never gives up on us!
If we forget to choose repentance, God is always present to help us choose again. And, we are free to keep choosing until we hit the mark more closely.
In our faith tradition, we call this sanctifying grace. As long as we have breath, we are free to make the choice of seeing things differently.
Sometimes, life can hand us some really bad pain. Sometimes, we will be forced to seek a new normal because what was once normal for us is now out of the question.
The Holy Spirit will walk with us, all the while facilitating the forging of a deeper relationship with Christ, others and self. It reminds me of a modern hymn, Walk With Me.
Light for every step…walk with me.
Giver of each breath…walk with me.
How I need you…oh Jesus, walk with me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrWh206sEoY (Kim Walker-Smith, 2012)
Do you need a new normal today? Change your mind.
Create a new life experience! Lean on Christ to forge a new normal.