What Does It Matter......

I like to exercise and cook and eat healthy, except for the occasional (read daily) chocolate.  I could out walk Forest Gump's running.  One of my favorite books, World Walk by Steven Newman, is the account of a man who walked the world because it was "there",  Even thinking about travel makes me start packing.  I enjoy restaurants; the nice ones and the hole in the wall ones you find only when you ask a local.  I like plays, because they capture my imagination and symphonies because I get to wear my little black dress and feel sophisticated and cultured and clap politely during the movements.

I'm fascinated by politics because I like to know the anatomy of the world and how it works.  I learn that by listening to those who understand more than I, and ciphering out what I think for myself.  It intrigues me to consider the biblical implications of the nightly news.  I love music and how it moves me and books and how their words capture me.  I like to read things I don't understand to see if I can understand because I don't like giving myself an easy excuse.  I used to take riding lessons and when asked if I wanted to learn english or western....I asked which was harder because that is what I would learn. I can be saucy that way.

I think boats are nice and wouldn't it be lovely to have one and go out on it whenever you wanted?  I love pretty clothes and feeling like a lady, all curly hair products and make up and such.  I think a dainty bracelet is just about all I'd need to feel feminine and flowers sent to my house just for me would make me feel "looked after".  It'd be nice to be the prettiest girl in the room, just once, with abs all laying flat and arms worked out firm and catching admiring glances like trophies, demurely pretending not to notice, not to care.

I've known important people, famous people even, and been in their homes; seen them behind the scenes and I can tell you that they live well and drive well and eat well and look better than most of us.  I sat on the living room floor of someone whose name would be familiar to many of you and talked life.  They had money and things and experiences. They went to the gym and they went to church and they went onstage and lived a life "moral" and good.  They even sang about God.  That day, though, on their living room floor, we both had the same feeling.  None of this is wrong.  All of it is good.  But we can't punctuate our lives with a list plus commas.

Boats, cars, health food, gym, money, beautiful, or God; if all that we seek stops at our own reflection in the mirror; if what we pursue holds our lives hostage, if what we have causes us to fear losing it and our currency is what buys us "safe" and makes us feel comfortable or important or noticed; if suddenly we were unable to advertise our life on social media for you to take note of "me";  If you could have everything you thought you needed to be happy.....what would it matter then?

    what God is looking for in men and women.
It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
    be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don’t take yourself too seriously—
    take God seriously.  Micah 6:8