To Be or Not to Be – Holy

Greetings Dear Reader,

Before we travel anywhere on this topic let me assure you that this is not holy in the sense of being better than anyone.  It is not an exercise in self-aggrandizing or claiming to have arrived at any level

To be holy one must be set apart.  One needs to be outside of the common stream of the world whilst still participating in the reality of the world.  The common perception of being holy is prideful and arrogant.  The actual state of being holy is dedication, work, and humility.  As I said earlier, I am so not there.

But I want to be.  I want to be set apart for Christ in every aspect of my life.  That does not put me above anyone.  It makes me the servant of everyone.  It does not make be better than anyone.  It requires that I realize the depth of my own failings in comparison to God.  It does not debase me or make me worthless.  It informs me of who I am as a child of God and the responsibilities associated with that standing.

To be holy is to be involved in following Christ on every internal and external level conceivable.  It is doing what is right no matter what the cost whilst realizing that one can only do right through Christ.  It is not my power that follows.  It is my submission to the mission.  It is setting my life apart to the following and obeying.  It is the power that Christ instills in me.

To be holy one must submit to following.  I must realize that until I arrive at the end of the path I will never have arrived.  Holiness is a pursuit not a state.  It is a journey not a destination.  It is choosing in the moment to be what I am called to be in Christ.  It is taking up my cross, denying my own wants, and living the journey.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

To Be or Not to Be – First Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

All around me New Year’s resolutions are dying.  My Daughter has asked me several times about mine and this served as evidence that she has not been reading my blog.  I heard four different individuals yesterday say something to the effect of “there goes that resolution.”

I think that instead of resolving to change something I benefit from identifying what I am supposed to be as a Christ follower and being that in the moment.  As I begin the journey through this New Year I want to examine things that I am supposed to be and assess how I can be a better version of those things.

From the outset I proceed from the assumption that I can be better at all the things that are good and right.  Proceeding from there allows me to start this portion of the journey honestly.  It helps me identify the areas of my life that need to be honed, pruned, or strengthened.

Even though I love my church I don’t need another sermon or song to tell me what I am supposed to be as a Christ follower.  Those things give me ideas for application and improvement.  So as I ponder what I am “to be or not to be” I focus on the “to be.”  My Grandfather would always say that if I spent my time focusing on the things I am supposed to do I would not have time to do the things I should not. 

Walk with me as I ponder "taH pagh taHbe'!" ("To be or not to be!").  After all if I am to live a life that follows Christ I must live moments that do so.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)