Slippery Slope
If you are to see light at the end of the tunnel, you first have to realize that there is a tunnel. You ever have one of those days, weeks, or years when there simply is no light visible? During those dark periods, well-meaning friends and family are more than happy to share with you the Christ they claim to believe in, yet do not appear to follow. Others that are not as close to you feel the negative vibes you are putting off and keep their distance, which is just fine with you during those dark times.
Wouldn't it be nice to never have dark days? I suppose life was just not intended to be so easy that we glide through it enjoying all the pleasures and being able to avoid the pitfalls. When those dark days hit, you have to admit it is hard to pick yourself up and seek the light even though we know this is where the peace we are seeking is found.
So what makes us humans migrate toward the dim light that can sometimes, but not always, lead to a total blackout? The interesting thing about the dim light is how it parades itself around as a shiny beam of sun yet when you reach out and grab hold; the bright light you sought begins to flicker away.
It may not happen quickly, but you know it happens. Those valleys in life you fake your way through yet you live as though you are on a mountaintop knowing all too well that the winds of justice will come blowing in anytime. In your moment of desperation, you ask yourself what the hell went wrong. Then as you gather your thoughts over the next few weeks and regain your balance, the lie that masked itself as truth is slowly revealed. Life, as we often call it or as well-meaning meandering friends may say "crap happens".
Now that we have taken the road to the netherworld, let's shift into high gear and pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and climb out of the pit of doom. This, my friend, is where the real test of the person happens. The mistakes are done, the people are hurt, the depression is there, and the hopelessness resides deep in your mind. BUT, instead of the end being near, this is where life can truly begin. You see, in my writings I try to always find the good in people because I am so confident it exists in every one of us. I believe with all my heart that the closer you get to the bottom, the closer you really are to the top. We humans like to rest somewhere in the middle which more often than not is nowhere at all. At the bottom, we have no where left to go but up. There is no light when you are facedown at the bottom of the pit. However, if you can look up you can climb up and that is where the real story begins.
The ones that Christ seeks out are not the people riding the crust of the wave with all their religious beliefs that place others on the outside of their little country clubs. Christ, as it is revealed clearly in scripture, came to help those that are facing the trials of life face down in the bottom of the pit. On that lonely ride down, you will have found many people you thought were your friends helping to grease the slope to make darn sure you go all the way down. They say they’re doing this to rid the kingdom of contaminants but guess what folks, the faster you slide down that slope, the faster Christ goes to catch you. The kingdom purifiers will poke their chest out and feel good about the work they have done, while the true ragpickers of the kingdom will place themselves on the slope to slow down the spiral you are in. God lives in the lowly and hurt. God works through those that have hit the bottom, then rolled over and picked themselves back up again. While others may pour dirt on the grave you helped dig, true believers will share the burden and help bring you back to life.
When life gets you down, I can't say don’t stress or stop worrying because that would be impossible. What I can say is this; the ride back up will be much better than the ride down. On the way back up, take the time to show those righteous religious the true light of Christ. At the top, you will be the new light shining on the hilltop that others seek out. Even those that pushed you down will now want to feel what you feel. Never be what they were, instead be the true light that loves all and helps all. Never seek to put someone on the public display of shame that only puts you outside the love and grace of God.
Tomorrow may not be easy nor the next day, but I can say this - if you are sliding down one of those slippery slopes, stay close to the side because there will be a messenger of love that will extend a hand and guide you back. Once you see the light of day again, it becomes your job to make sure you help others when they face the downside of life. Remember, together we can spread the message of love and make a difference right where we are. Change starts with you, so let's buckle up and get going; we have to either throw someone a rope or catch a rope ourselves.
peace to you
Dale
Wouldn't it be nice to never have dark days? I suppose life was just not intended to be so easy that we glide through it enjoying all the pleasures and being able to avoid the pitfalls. When those dark days hit, you have to admit it is hard to pick yourself up and seek the light even though we know this is where the peace we are seeking is found.
So what makes us humans migrate toward the dim light that can sometimes, but not always, lead to a total blackout? The interesting thing about the dim light is how it parades itself around as a shiny beam of sun yet when you reach out and grab hold; the bright light you sought begins to flicker away.
It may not happen quickly, but you know it happens. Those valleys in life you fake your way through yet you live as though you are on a mountaintop knowing all too well that the winds of justice will come blowing in anytime. In your moment of desperation, you ask yourself what the hell went wrong. Then as you gather your thoughts over the next few weeks and regain your balance, the lie that masked itself as truth is slowly revealed. Life, as we often call it or as well-meaning meandering friends may say "crap happens".
Now that we have taken the road to the netherworld, let's shift into high gear and pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and climb out of the pit of doom. This, my friend, is where the real test of the person happens. The mistakes are done, the people are hurt, the depression is there, and the hopelessness resides deep in your mind. BUT, instead of the end being near, this is where life can truly begin. You see, in my writings I try to always find the good in people because I am so confident it exists in every one of us. I believe with all my heart that the closer you get to the bottom, the closer you really are to the top. We humans like to rest somewhere in the middle which more often than not is nowhere at all. At the bottom, we have no where left to go but up. There is no light when you are facedown at the bottom of the pit. However, if you can look up you can climb up and that is where the real story begins.
The ones that Christ seeks out are not the people riding the crust of the wave with all their religious beliefs that place others on the outside of their little country clubs. Christ, as it is revealed clearly in scripture, came to help those that are facing the trials of life face down in the bottom of the pit. On that lonely ride down, you will have found many people you thought were your friends helping to grease the slope to make darn sure you go all the way down. They say they’re doing this to rid the kingdom of contaminants but guess what folks, the faster you slide down that slope, the faster Christ goes to catch you. The kingdom purifiers will poke their chest out and feel good about the work they have done, while the true ragpickers of the kingdom will place themselves on the slope to slow down the spiral you are in. God lives in the lowly and hurt. God works through those that have hit the bottom, then rolled over and picked themselves back up again. While others may pour dirt on the grave you helped dig, true believers will share the burden and help bring you back to life.
When life gets you down, I can't say don’t stress or stop worrying because that would be impossible. What I can say is this; the ride back up will be much better than the ride down. On the way back up, take the time to show those righteous religious the true light of Christ. At the top, you will be the new light shining on the hilltop that others seek out. Even those that pushed you down will now want to feel what you feel. Never be what they were, instead be the true light that loves all and helps all. Never seek to put someone on the public display of shame that only puts you outside the love and grace of God.
Tomorrow may not be easy nor the next day, but I can say this - if you are sliding down one of those slippery slopes, stay close to the side because there will be a messenger of love that will extend a hand and guide you back. Once you see the light of day again, it becomes your job to make sure you help others when they face the downside of life. Remember, together we can spread the message of love and make a difference right where we are. Change starts with you, so let's buckle up and get going; we have to either throw someone a rope or catch a rope ourselves.
peace to you
Dale
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