Day Sixteen: Follow

By: Bailey Brawner

I’m a stereotypical Millennial these days. So what else would I be doing on my lunch break than scrolling through Twitter? I couldn’t tell you. As I’m making my way to the most recent tweets, I scan for good blog posts, funny jokes, or something inspiring. Usually, I’m impressed, leading me to click on tons of cool stories from Relevant or Thought Catalog. (I can never get enough of the “15 ways you know” type posts.) However, there are some days when I have to reevaluate what I’m reading, and what I’m choosing to expose myself to. If it gets bad enough, I have no choice but to make the way towards the ‘unfollow’ button and click it.

We need to be careful who and what we follow. Not just in social media terms, but in real life. In high school, we chose our friends, and then were grouped and categorized based on we hung out with. In my high school, there were the skiers, tree-huggers, and the ‘bro’s’, just to name a few. The people and the lifestyle you chose to channel yourself towards was how you were seen by everyone else.

I hate to break it to you folks, but we’re basically in high school still. In our world today, we are most certainly seen in terms of our group, social class, or physical appearance. I see super fit people at the gym, and judge them, assuming that they’re skinny without trying. This causes a sad hatred-esque feeling towards all people who are in shape. I’ve also subconsciously locked my door when pulling up at a stoplight next to a homeless person holding a sign. I must have this feeling somewhere that all people without homes are scary or threatening. It’s a sad reality, but no matter who we are, we are seen by others not for who we are, but who and what we surround ourselves with–who we follow.

Though we claim to be an equal opportunities type society, it’s not hard to see the harsh reality of it all. It’s about who you know and who you hang around. It’s about the places you are seen in and all the company name dropping you can load up your resume with.

We live in a society where being around the wrong people or situations can be costly, just as the right people create better outcomes. In the Christian bubble, it’s all too much the same. One little thing you post on Facebook out of anger could be one less family that attends your church. A skirt that’s a bit too short means there’s no way you could be a Christian. A bad word spoken in a public place is a sign that the next time you walk into church, it’ll probably catch on fire. Maybe they’re dramatic examples, but you get the point.

We have to be careful who we follow, and what we follow, too.

Let me give you a simple solution; follow Jesus.

Not only does this mean following Jesus, Son of God, Talladega Nights prayer Baby Jesus, but also those who follow the God you know and love. Finding people around us who have a relationship with God and who seek Him in all they do is such an important element of being us, the body of Christ. Having friends who lift us up, encourage positivity, and tell us when we screw up helps us to strengthen the relationship we have with God. I can tell you it’s done wonders for me, and without these people in my life, I definitely wouldn’t be as committed to Him.

So next time you hit up your local Twitter profile, think about what would happen if you clicked on Jesus’ profile. Who would his followers be? And would your followers be the same as His?

Day Ten: Wait

By: Bailey Brawner

Waiting is hard.

I think I’m done. That’s all I need to write, because seriously, I don’t have to convince anyone of that.

It’s horrible and annoying and nothing good comes from it. #truthtalk

If my communication skills are really that bad and you still aren’t convinced though, let me tell you a story. Grab your popcorn, or strong coffee, and read on.

Once upon a time, in a magical kingdom called Seattle, Washington, there lived a sassy princess. One day, she was minding her own business, reading about other people’s wonderful lives on Facebook when she came across a posting from Rachel Held Evans, a favorite blogger of the princess! Rachel was posting to announce that she’d be looking for people to read and review her book before it came out. The princess was so excited, she had to apply for it.

Let’s put a pause on this and be real, folks. Life isn’t a fairy tale. I’m the princess. Me, Bailey. Embrace it. Fear it. Love it. Ready to continue? Good.

So, I had just applied for the awesome pre-release reading experience, so of course, I had to stalk her blog a little more. It brought me to a list of her past books. One, A Year of Biblical Womanhood, drew my attention. I read a little bit about it, and made the quick decision to go on Amazon and click order, before I gave it any more thought. The confirmation email came in, and I saw the dreaded, open-ended phrase of “estimated delivery date”. Kill me now.

So what what I to do? Obviously, I went to the preview section and started reading. Just as I would get intrigued by a section, it would take me to the start of the next chapter, until I got to the references at the end of the book. Lame. My last move was to read the reviews, hoping to squeeze some more juice from the fruits of undelivered Rachel Held Evans books. This experience was like cheap Valentine’s Day chocolate; still good, not not like the real thing at all.

Friends, please don’t ask me about the Rachel book until March 3-6. Thanks. **

To put it lightly, I don’t think waiting is desirable in my current state of life. Even for something so silly as a book, I want it now. (Cue Veruca Salt video.) But God makes us wait. He makes us wait because He knows that waiting builds character, or something like that. Really though. Waiting will help to bear that delicious fruit, whereas picking that fruit off when it’s still growing makes for some nasty apple pie.And who, in their right mind, is going to waste precious calories on gross apple pie? Not I.

It’s actually good to wait. God helps us to do it. God cares for us while we wait. What can be better than that?

So, as you all are praying for my patience to not yell at the mailman when he comes, yet again, empty handed, I’ll be praying for you too. I’ll pray for lives where we can discover the greatness and wholeness of waiting together, of waiting alone, and of not knowing what we’re waiting for.

**Also, someone was thinking it, so I’ll explain myself.. Why doesn’t she have Prime? The answer, my observant friend, is that I do, but wasn’t in the mood to spend the extra ten dollars to purchase a Prime book. Also, I like to build my character in waiting. Kidding.

Day Seven: Path

By: Bailey Brawner

Each of us has our own special path in life. Whether it is something we know already, or are still waiting to learn, it’s there. Some of us have paths that are more direct, like to be a certain occupation, or to share life with a specific person. For others, this path can be more broad, like making it another day.

No matter what path you are on, it’s important to remain open for God to work while you walk.

If God worked in a way of simplicity and directness, life would be much easier to understand. Like a Magic 8 Ball, we could simply ask God a question, and see our yes or no answer immediately. “God, should I go to school here?” “My sources say no”, God says. “How about here then?” God answers, “yes”. Problem solved, done. Wouldn’t this be a nice way to communicate with God?

Despite my knowledge of Sunday school answers, I can honestly say that a part of me would say yes, this would be a nice way to communicate with God. To be confident that what I wanted to know at that minute in time would be presented to me, clearly and simply, it sounds awesome. However, in God working this way, I know that I would fail to see the magic of His plan for me. I know that I would take for granted (even more than I already do) the things I have and the opportunities I am granted. Most importantly, I know that my relationship with God would not be nearly as special.

In talking about “the path”, here are some things I plan to keep in my mind to allow myself to appreciate it fully.

• Look at the path as a windy and hilly one, versus a straight line type path. This path, filled with hills and turns, symbolizes a path where we can’t always see what’s ahead. Sometimes we just have to walk further and trust that what’s at the end is good. In a straight path, we see the end, and there’s no mystery in the journey. We’ve already learned that this is not the way God works. We need to learn to be okay with not seeing the finish line, or not knowing all the answers.
• Trust that, even in the low points, you have not reached the end of your path. If something lame or disheartening or challenging happens in your life, know that it’s not the end of the world. Know that God is still working. You may not know it now, but there’s a rainbow up ahead, a covenant from God, letting you know that it’s going to be okay. Keep walking, and know that it is worth the journey.
• Walking the path means you can eat more chocolate later! Sorry I’m a chocolate fanatic, but for real. In the same ways that we exercise to burn calories, so we can eat something delicious, we travel through life, facing hardships and challenges, to get to the exciting plans God has for us. So work hard, sweat hard, and maybe do some lunges if you get bored on the way there. (Because lunges give you nice legs, and who doesn’t want that?)

God, help us today, and all days, to consciously appreciate the path we have been given. Through days where we just want to give up, help us to remember that the end is worth so much more than we could ever imagine. Help us get over the hills with the strength you give us, each and every day. Amen.

Day Three: Alone

By: Aaron Pazan

I think there is a time in everyones life where they feel completely alone.

However, for me there was a long period of time that I felt completely and utterly alone, even while surrounded by people. This photo is an example of that. This photo was taken at Exploration (an event for those exploring ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church) in Denver in November of 2013. This event and me starting to come to terms with my sexuality just days before the event started this period of time for me where I felt completely alone.

I am the type of person who hates talking about my emotions with anyone. So I perfer to close myself off and give people half truth answers to how was feeling. I have gotten good at faking my happiness while I was around people. I didn’t want people to see me struggling. I was in fear of what people would say or do when they saw that the so called perfect poster child for The United Methodist Church was actually someone completely scared and hurting because of the Church’s stance on one issue that affected me.

I allowed myself to become so closed off to the point, where I knew that if I didn’t somehow figure out a way to stop feeling like I’m alone when I’m with a group of people, I would have started doing things I told myself I would never do. I believe we put so much stigma on the idea that we have to do everything ourselves without the help of other people. I know for me personally I waited until almost the last minute to reach out for help when I felt so desperately alone. I was so wrapped up in the idea that I would be rejected because of my denominations official stance on homosexuality. Yet, I was wrong. The people I told welcomed me with open arms and told me that it was okay for me to be a lesbian and a Christian at the same time.

One of the best things someone has ever told me is “You are not alone, ever.” No matter how many times I feel like I’m alone or that no one is ever listening or caring about me, I have to remind myself that God is always with me and that people are always thinking about me.

Day 1: Announce

By: Aaron Pazan

Today Christians around the world make a public and typically formal declaration about an intention for the Lenten Season. Today marks Ash Wednesday the start of the Lenten season, 40 days total if you don’t include Sundays. Ash Wednesday gets its name from the use of burned palm branches from last year’s Palm Sunday Services. The common phrase stated during an Ash Wednesday service is “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return”.

This Lenten season, as people announce what they’re “giving up for Lent all over social media, I want you instead to perhaps figure out what you are going to add into your life for Lent. What will you do instead to deepen your relationship with God? Will it be spending 10 minutes in silence everyday just allowing yourself to breathe and open yourself to the presence of the Divine? Or will you go outside and sit with nature if that’s what gets you close to the Divine?

I know for me personally, I will be trying to do a combination of things. I intend to practice sitting in silence for 10 minutes a day to allow the Divine to work within me. I also intend to go running at least twice a week. For me, Lent is about making healthy choices that can continue long after the Lenten season.

I want to end with some lyrics from The Brilliance’s song “Dust We Are And Shall Return” From dust we’ve come and dust we are and shall return Be still my soul and let it go, just let it go Be still my soul, Lord make me whole, Lord make me whole