This week I’ve spent most (like 90%) of my time at home. There are several reasons for this, firstly my doctor recommended that I take it easy and not walk unless it was absolutely necessary because my knee is still painful and it needs time to rest and heal. Secondly, I don’t know anyone in Adelaide who I can just randomly chill with during the day, in the middle of the week. Lastly, I don’t know what there is to do in this place. But the time home alone has been painfully interesting…I cannot remember the last time I spent a week in near seclusion with nothing really to do (except for unpack, but that doesn’t count coz it’s so boring). I’m glad that it was only for this week and that next week the real estate course starts and it will be full stream head from there. However, I can say that when you are left with no one but yourself (and God) to chill with, you get to see the real you. The you that you don’t really want to see, (the) that is why you keep yourself busy, you. It’s pretty confrontational! Like I mentioned in my previous post, you are now face to face with your flaws and fears and there is nowhere to run. It’s like the movie Home Alone but instead of running away from and tricking robbers, you are the enemy. It reminds me of that popular secular quote, “You are your own worst enemy”.
I needed this week! We need to be able to identify the issues within ourselves if we are ever going to be able to make steps to fix them before we try take on the rest of the world. If your life is always too busy and you can’t spend even a few hours by yourself (without TV, books, computers, etc) then you need that time. Maybe that is why we accept so many of the world’s social issues, we try to keep busy so that we have an excuse to ignore it or expect someone else to deal with it, yet we are so profoundly excellent at identifying them. Well another popular quote would be, “Charity begins at home”. How can we fix the world’s problems if we do not take care of our own first? My biblical reference is Luke 6:42, "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye.”
This week for me has helped me identify the planks that are in my eyes (so to speak) so that I can better see the rest of the world (call it 20/20 vision). It’s so easy to see all the specks that are out there and ignore our planks. What is the speck or plank that you have lodged in your eye? Who are you when you all by yourself and cannot hide behind your friendships, personality or your vocation? If you are always looking out and noticing the problems of the world and don’t want to look at the own state of your heart, then what you are doing is in vain! I’m learning and we all should learn to spend time with ourselves, catch the thoughts that go through our heads, the attitudes that we ascribe to, the prejudices we justify. Is this who you want to be??? If you are happy then there is no need to read on...
After some reflection, if this is not who you want to be, then there is only one sure solution! If you are a Christian, you should turn away from (repent) of those attitudes and thoughts. Ask Jesus for forgiveness and ask Him to renew your heart and mind! If you are not a Christian (or you call yourself one but do not really love Jesus) you are probably sick and tired of the person you really are behind closed doors, when you are home alone. Jesus can change you. Most importantly, you cannot change yourself! It is our sin (i.e., selfish living, etc) that separates us from Him, which according to the bible (Romans 6:23) leads to our death, both physical and spiritual (eternal) death. He can remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). Jesus is God, He came to earth born of the virgin Mary, lived a perfect life that we cannot live and was murdered (crucified) by us, for all our sins (including our bad attitudes), and died the death that we should die. Because He was perfect (lived a perfect life without sin), death couldn’t hold Him so He raised up on the third day, defeating sin and death for us, forever! That is the good news of the love of Jesus! It is a free gift from God open to ANYONE who receives it!
Jesus can change you! I am a prime example of God’s mercy and forgiveness. I am far from being perfect as I saw clearly this week but I know I am totally different to the person I was 3 years ago! It’s a process and I would not change this for anything! The fulfilment I get from God by far surpasses all the cheap thrills I used to run to years ago! Now I can do a week home alone, 3 years ago I couldn't do 3 hours.
