Being comfortable is something that people aim for. However, this picture brings nothing but uncomfortable memories for me. I love theatre with my whole heart, don't get me wrong. But this picture reminds me of high school, and who WANTS to think about that again? It reminds me of the thoughts that ran through my mind when the script for James and the Giant Peach was handed to me and I was told I was going to be a ladybug. It reminds me of sitting on top of that peach while stage hands moved it in circles, and I was being held up by a piece of wood WITH my best friend, and our heads were right next to the stage lights. It was hot, it was awkward, and I felt like I should have been performing for a class of third grade kids. At the same time, I loved it. I love being on stage, hair and makeup ready, and putting that little mic on my face with medical tape (even though I absolutely HATE medical tape). I loved my director and everyone that worked alongside her to make things happen. I love performing. But..it made me uncomfortable. So.. I Googled it. I looked up the definition of comfortable, and it was actually really interesting. It is the idea of having physical or mental comfort, or ease. It is also defined as feeling ease to accommodate oneself. That last part hit me. Accommodating yourself seems selfish, right? Focusing on what YOU want instead of what you really should be doing? And this goes back to.. what? Temptations? Peer pressure? Uncertainty? Doubt? I think we are too focused on being comfortable because it allows us to be silent. We do not have to step out of our comfort zone, we do not have to try new things, we do not have to be around people we do not know.. It's just comfortable. But at the same time, I think comfort is dangerous. It aids you in ignoring parts of your life that you NEED to be challenged in, like faith. It allows you to stay to yourself more than necessary, leaving relationships astray. So if you think about it, why do we try so hard to stay comfortable in every aspect of our lives? Now, don't get me wrong. I am a fan of sweatpants and baggy tshirts, and anyone who knows me understands my love for napping. That is not what I am talking about. I'm really digging into the idea that many of us, including myself, get so wrapped up in the life that we live in and the motions that we are used to that we leave our faith where it is. We stop digging when we feel that we are in a good place, and we become satisfied. We think, "Well, I go to church every week, I listen to Christian music, and I am a good person, so I shouldn't be worried." RIGHT?? I see this all the time, and I have been there myself. It's scary. I don't have a cure-all for this, it's just been on my mind. A few weeks back, I heard someone say, "You produce more fruit when you're in the valley rather than the mountaintop," and I have never heard something more accurate. When you start doubting, leaning on things of this world, and become distracted, it allows for us to fill that hunger for the Word with people or things, and that is the last thing we need to be doing. It tempts us to believe that if we do not FEEL the presence of God, that he is not even there, and that is furthest from the truth. Perseverance is key, and having the ability to hand over your worries to Him is necessary to keep growing. God is with you. Jesus loves you. Life is hard, but we are all in this together. {High School Musical pun intended} xoxo, Michelle
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