Wheat
Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains a great of wheat. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. - John 12:24. One of the few things I miss about not living in New Orleans is my ability to be part of the TEC community. After my junior year of high school, I attended a TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) retreat and loved it. It was the first time that I felt so alive and in love with my faith. I came home glowing and on fire from that retreat. Over the next few years, I worked three retreats and attended many TEC reunions and always found myself feeling so at home, welcome, and loved in the TEC community. I miss it greatly and sometimes, I forget what it feels like to feel so passionate about my faith.
One of the many messages TEC focuses on is the Scripture above and after attending mass this Sunday, was reminded of its simplistic yet profound message and meaning. I'm not advocating we all go out and die to ourselves in order to bear fruit. But what I'm reminded of and what I should be striving to do more of is ridding myself or dying to the things in my life I don't need and have no control over: the distractions, the worries, the drama which never amounts to much and never leaves me feeling good about myself.
I went and had a cavity filled this morning (ridiculous considering how meticulous I am with my hygiene...I floss daily. seriously) and as I was lying in the chair and a needle was being lodged into my gums, I realized that no matter how hard we try or what we do, some things are beyond our control. And it's not the things that happen that make us who we are, it's our responses to those situations. Shit happens. (I'm not trying to blow my cavity up to be some monumental life altering event. I'm just saying...) But we keep moving forward and honestly, if we can die to trying to control everything and instead, continue to be thankful for the good rather than reflect on the bad, I happen to think we'll be much happier. And perhaps bear some fruit along the way...
Cheers.
One of the many messages TEC focuses on is the Scripture above and after attending mass this Sunday, was reminded of its simplistic yet profound message and meaning. I'm not advocating we all go out and die to ourselves in order to bear fruit. But what I'm reminded of and what I should be striving to do more of is ridding myself or dying to the things in my life I don't need and have no control over: the distractions, the worries, the drama which never amounts to much and never leaves me feeling good about myself.
I went and had a cavity filled this morning (ridiculous considering how meticulous I am with my hygiene...I floss daily. seriously) and as I was lying in the chair and a needle was being lodged into my gums, I realized that no matter how hard we try or what we do, some things are beyond our control. And it's not the things that happen that make us who we are, it's our responses to those situations. Shit happens. (I'm not trying to blow my cavity up to be some monumental life altering event. I'm just saying...) But we keep moving forward and honestly, if we can die to trying to control everything and instead, continue to be thankful for the good rather than reflect on the bad, I happen to think we'll be much happier. And perhaps bear some fruit along the way...
Cheers.
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