Have you ever been cut off in traffic, nearly ran over by a shopping cart, cut in front of, held the door for a group with no thank you in return, or just watched as someone did something right in front of you that makes you scratch your head and even get a little upset? If you answered no you are lying to yourself! Well if you know me, I am quick to get peeved in these situations, my family thinks it’s funny and I assure you it is not. Maybe it comes from my lack of patience that I am constantly praying for and I believe God is answering me with more situations where I fail miserably (thank you Lord). Whatever the case is, there has been an overpowering thought that has been on my mind for over a month now, compassion.
About three weeks after I continued to try and push thoughts that I wasn’t very compassionate a sermon at Beltway was given, on compassion and the only thought that came to my mind that morning was, God is calling me on the carpet right here and now. Matthew 7:3-4, go look it up real quick it will only take a second. Think about what it says … no reflect on when you get upset with people, people you don’t even know, for the small, insignificant things that bother you…. Pretty weak on us right?
Confession: I have realized why I get so upset when someone is driving bad, or is inconsiderate of those around them, or oblivious to what is going on that creates an inconvenience to me (for 5 seconds). I get so put off so quickly because somewhere inside of me, I felt like I NEVER was guilty of the same things, I felt that I was above these things and was disgusted at the things going on around me. How self righteous am i?!
Now the word compassion by definition means to have pity on or suffer with others as they are greeted by misfortunes. I thought before this internal quest that I was a pretty compassionate person; I do ministry, I tell people I will pray for them, I donate to the needy. SO WHAT! Those are simply actions without center if I am doing them without true compassion. What is true compassion? Glad you asked. Jesus Christ. The number one synonym I could find for compassion, mercy. Getting something you don’t deserve. We were given, I was given, the opportunity to have abundant life and to have it to the full, to live eternally with the Creator of the universe who loved me so much knowing that I would be such a mess and filthy and undeserving.
So if my life is supposed to imitate Christ, I should have the same compassion for everyone that He has on me right? Correct. Well what does that look like? Again, glad you asked, you’re asking good questions. It means that when someone is driving… poorly… I don’t get upset and speed around them or give a little “hey genius drive better” honk. Or when someone almost t-bones me with their shopping cart and says nothing but expects me to move, smile and I be the one to let them pass. It’s these little things that I see all the time in my every day walking that I need to work on, not because I can but because I should. I should hold myself to a higher standard as a believer and imitator of Christ to do the uncommon thing.
After all let’s be honest, plenty of people can get upset while behind the wheel, anyone can mumble unnecessary things under their breath, but who can take a deep breath, remember the compassion Christ has for me on a daily basis with how much I slip up, and translate that into my own mercy and understanding. Because who knows, maybe the person I could get frustrated with, is having a bad day, and I can show them Jesus through the way I handle a situation. You never know! Strength and Courage peeps
Much Love
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Brothers Keeper
This past weekend marks one of the hardest moments of my life to this point: Taking my brother to college.
This may sounds stupid to some, but if you understood the relationship my brother and I have you may understand a little better, so I’ll attempt to unpack it fairly quick.
1993- Davis born
1993-2001 Davis and I have our little brotherly childhood arguments and disagreements, usually over toys or what’s fair and what isn’t. Typical stuff
2001- Sibling Civil War breaks out
I’m not sure what started this; me pushing Davis into the wall splitting his forehead open or when he hit me in the face with a baseball bat knocking two teeth out… up for further review but we wont get into it, leave it for historians to debate years later.
2001-2004- Battles Break Out
During these years Davis and I had an interesting relationship. Sometimes things were good, but sometimes things were terrible. We got along just fine, nothing that ever needed counseling or interventions (beyond our parents). However it was at a point where Davis and I fought enough for our parents to cancel a family trip to Arizona due to our persistent fighting on summer afternoon. Davis and I would play basketball until my mom made us come in most nights (usually heated games that made dinner a battle of frustration).
I don’t want to put words into Davis’ mouth because he and I have never sat down and discussed these years however I have some thoughts, opinions if you may. The reason I believe Davis and I had such a hard time within these years is that we trying to keep up with the other one. From as long as I can remember Davis and I were different in some specific ways: Davis was bigger than I was, which created him to have an advantage in most sports that we played, so I was playing catch up to try and be as good as my younger brother. I was naturally smarter than Davis (Davis isn’t dumb by any means), school came easy to me and I had to try very little in order to be successful, so Davis was always putting in twice as much work on his education than I was (still the case, he busts his butt in school, I could use more of that).
From there on, everything seemed to be that way, one of us was better at something and it drove the other one crazy! We kept “score” in everything that we did, we wanted to out-do the other one, not wanting the other to have satisfaction in whatever they were doing because we could do it better, faster, or whatever the case may have been.
2004-2008- Treaty of Papaya
We moved the summer before I entered high school, changing our school districts for many reasons but a big one being Davis and Stephen would go to better schools, I don’t believe it changed our high school district so that wasn’t an issue. Something about moving into that house, Davis entering middle school, myself entering high school, brought a peace between us. We all of the sudden hung out with each other and it wasn’t a constant competition. We encouraged each other, we wanted the other to do well in the things we were taking part in, we weren’t keeping “score” of who was doing what and if that was comparable to ourselves. I’ve always said that Davis is more mature than his age in a lot of ways, and this is where I am now realizing it. Davis and I became friends.
Having Davis in high school with me for my senior year, his freshman was an absolute blast! I honestly felt like I knew 2000 or the 2500 that went to our school, in part due to being social and involved but a lot of that came from being around Davis’ group of friends for so long. I got to watch him dominate freshman athletics, and transform from this quiet, shy kid, to a social butterfly (oops). Davis started to hang out with my friends when the opportunity provided itself, there wasn’t much he couldn’t do with me at this point, we were pretty close.
Fall 2008- College Departure
I left for college in August of 2008 and I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into. I wasn’t sure what relationships would be like with me going 500 miles from home. I knew family would always be family but the people I had grown closest to for the first 18 years of my life would now not be around every day. I was worried that things would fade
2008-2011 Bro Times
During these years of me being away Davis and I somehow managed to communicate really well while I was gone. We didn’t talk every day necessarily but 3-4 times a week and we didn’t seem to struggle. Every time I went home for a break we picked right back up where we left off, honestly, we became closer. We spend A LOT of time together during breaks when I’m back and our relationship has increased to something I would have never imagined. We talk about anything and are on the same page it’s scary sometimes.
We don’t think we look alike and most people don’t either, however we have had (on numerous occasion) people ask if we are twins. This is strange to us because in no way do we see that resemblance, however we both think that wouldn’t be so bad. We are 3 years apart, but we act like we are the exact same age. We have become best friends. My parents say “how scary would it be if you two were the same age” and honestly, they are right!
We are pretty legit, I’m not going to sugar coat that so take it as boastful or bragging if you want to, I said it. We are two people that you want to be around, guaranteed smiles and laughs but at the same time can straighten out and get real in a heartbeat. Together Davis and I are enjoyable to be around (so we’re told and I believe).
2011- Tables Turned
Made a trip to Grand Junction, CO for Davis’ defensive workout with Mesa State University. This wasn’t the first time, or the first school, that I had been in this situation. Going through the decision making process and now going through it with Davis, its “not our first rodeo.” However when it’s not you, it’s different. Leaving that weekend, I knew that is where Davis would decide to go to school, where things would work out, and where God would open doors for him.
This weekend I helped move my brother into his dorm room (more like a hotel) and spend the last few days with him. It sucked. I didn’t enjoy much of the actual moving in process, the going with him to admissions, bookstore, etc. He played no role in my dissatisfaction, but he played the entire role. I was doing something for the first time it felt, let go of my younger brother. For the past 48 hours I felt like, for the first time in a long time, that he was younger, lived less life, embarking on new, uncharted territory. I had feelings of anger, hurt, frustration, jealousy, heartache, confusion, joy, peace, all balled into one weekend.
I can’t explain everyone of those emotions for you over the past weekend, that would take a while, but I will say this; you know the headache you get after balling your eyes out, that’s what I’ve felt for the past 3 days thinking about this moment (and I hadn’t cried, well, that hard, until leaving him this morning).
It hurts, it sucks, to leave someone you are that close with, that means that much to you, that you want the absolute best for in everything they do, but you can’t control it. I know that he is in a good place and that he is going to do great things, that’s who he is. It hurts that I can’t physically be there for it, that I will be 15 hours away, trying to do the same thing.
I don’t expect things to change between my brother and I, the love will never fade, and the friendship will continue to grow. Things will be different now though, because he and I are once again on the same level in a sense, college. Last time this was the case, great things happened, I expect nothing less this time around. We’ll see what happens from here, what doors God opens up and where God takes both of us. It sucks that I have been blessed with such an amazing brother and family, such an amazing friend, and such an amazing situation. “If it didn’t suck this bad, it would suck much more”, may be difficult for you reading to comprehend that, but think about it.
Now-
Going to be awesome!
Much Love
This may sounds stupid to some, but if you understood the relationship my brother and I have you may understand a little better, so I’ll attempt to unpack it fairly quick.
1993- Davis born
1993-2001 Davis and I have our little brotherly childhood arguments and disagreements, usually over toys or what’s fair and what isn’t. Typical stuff
2001- Sibling Civil War breaks out
I’m not sure what started this; me pushing Davis into the wall splitting his forehead open or when he hit me in the face with a baseball bat knocking two teeth out… up for further review but we wont get into it, leave it for historians to debate years later.
2001-2004- Battles Break Out
During these years Davis and I had an interesting relationship. Sometimes things were good, but sometimes things were terrible. We got along just fine, nothing that ever needed counseling or interventions (beyond our parents). However it was at a point where Davis and I fought enough for our parents to cancel a family trip to Arizona due to our persistent fighting on summer afternoon. Davis and I would play basketball until my mom made us come in most nights (usually heated games that made dinner a battle of frustration).
I don’t want to put words into Davis’ mouth because he and I have never sat down and discussed these years however I have some thoughts, opinions if you may. The reason I believe Davis and I had such a hard time within these years is that we trying to keep up with the other one. From as long as I can remember Davis and I were different in some specific ways: Davis was bigger than I was, which created him to have an advantage in most sports that we played, so I was playing catch up to try and be as good as my younger brother. I was naturally smarter than Davis (Davis isn’t dumb by any means), school came easy to me and I had to try very little in order to be successful, so Davis was always putting in twice as much work on his education than I was (still the case, he busts his butt in school, I could use more of that).
From there on, everything seemed to be that way, one of us was better at something and it drove the other one crazy! We kept “score” in everything that we did, we wanted to out-do the other one, not wanting the other to have satisfaction in whatever they were doing because we could do it better, faster, or whatever the case may have been.
2004-2008- Treaty of Papaya
We moved the summer before I entered high school, changing our school districts for many reasons but a big one being Davis and Stephen would go to better schools, I don’t believe it changed our high school district so that wasn’t an issue. Something about moving into that house, Davis entering middle school, myself entering high school, brought a peace between us. We all of the sudden hung out with each other and it wasn’t a constant competition. We encouraged each other, we wanted the other to do well in the things we were taking part in, we weren’t keeping “score” of who was doing what and if that was comparable to ourselves. I’ve always said that Davis is more mature than his age in a lot of ways, and this is where I am now realizing it. Davis and I became friends.
Having Davis in high school with me for my senior year, his freshman was an absolute blast! I honestly felt like I knew 2000 or the 2500 that went to our school, in part due to being social and involved but a lot of that came from being around Davis’ group of friends for so long. I got to watch him dominate freshman athletics, and transform from this quiet, shy kid, to a social butterfly (oops). Davis started to hang out with my friends when the opportunity provided itself, there wasn’t much he couldn’t do with me at this point, we were pretty close.
Fall 2008- College Departure
I left for college in August of 2008 and I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into. I wasn’t sure what relationships would be like with me going 500 miles from home. I knew family would always be family but the people I had grown closest to for the first 18 years of my life would now not be around every day. I was worried that things would fade
2008-2011 Bro Times
During these years of me being away Davis and I somehow managed to communicate really well while I was gone. We didn’t talk every day necessarily but 3-4 times a week and we didn’t seem to struggle. Every time I went home for a break we picked right back up where we left off, honestly, we became closer. We spend A LOT of time together during breaks when I’m back and our relationship has increased to something I would have never imagined. We talk about anything and are on the same page it’s scary sometimes.
We don’t think we look alike and most people don’t either, however we have had (on numerous occasion) people ask if we are twins. This is strange to us because in no way do we see that resemblance, however we both think that wouldn’t be so bad. We are 3 years apart, but we act like we are the exact same age. We have become best friends. My parents say “how scary would it be if you two were the same age” and honestly, they are right!
We are pretty legit, I’m not going to sugar coat that so take it as boastful or bragging if you want to, I said it. We are two people that you want to be around, guaranteed smiles and laughs but at the same time can straighten out and get real in a heartbeat. Together Davis and I are enjoyable to be around (so we’re told and I believe).
2011- Tables Turned
Made a trip to Grand Junction, CO for Davis’ defensive workout with Mesa State University. This wasn’t the first time, or the first school, that I had been in this situation. Going through the decision making process and now going through it with Davis, its “not our first rodeo.” However when it’s not you, it’s different. Leaving that weekend, I knew that is where Davis would decide to go to school, where things would work out, and where God would open doors for him.
This weekend I helped move my brother into his dorm room (more like a hotel) and spend the last few days with him. It sucked. I didn’t enjoy much of the actual moving in process, the going with him to admissions, bookstore, etc. He played no role in my dissatisfaction, but he played the entire role. I was doing something for the first time it felt, let go of my younger brother. For the past 48 hours I felt like, for the first time in a long time, that he was younger, lived less life, embarking on new, uncharted territory. I had feelings of anger, hurt, frustration, jealousy, heartache, confusion, joy, peace, all balled into one weekend.
I can’t explain everyone of those emotions for you over the past weekend, that would take a while, but I will say this; you know the headache you get after balling your eyes out, that’s what I’ve felt for the past 3 days thinking about this moment (and I hadn’t cried, well, that hard, until leaving him this morning).
It hurts, it sucks, to leave someone you are that close with, that means that much to you, that you want the absolute best for in everything they do, but you can’t control it. I know that he is in a good place and that he is going to do great things, that’s who he is. It hurts that I can’t physically be there for it, that I will be 15 hours away, trying to do the same thing.
I don’t expect things to change between my brother and I, the love will never fade, and the friendship will continue to grow. Things will be different now though, because he and I are once again on the same level in a sense, college. Last time this was the case, great things happened, I expect nothing less this time around. We’ll see what happens from here, what doors God opens up and where God takes both of us. It sucks that I have been blessed with such an amazing brother and family, such an amazing friend, and such an amazing situation. “If it didn’t suck this bad, it would suck much more”, may be difficult for you reading to comprehend that, but think about it.
Now-
Going to be awesome!
Much Love
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