Yeah, I’ve pretty much decided that I will never be hip or trendy. By the time I catch on to what people are wearing, they are wearing something else. It’s much easier to be comfortable and nerdy, I think. Also, way less expensive.

I also was reminded of something. Every time I face disappointment or disilusionment, I can be frustrated or I can see in it a chance to die to myself and my own desires, plans, and ways of doing things. Not that those are bad, but they often stand in the way of God’s desires, plans and ways of doing things. Learning to die reminds me that I’m not in control, but God is. It also reminds me that this world is not home, but at best like a clean bus station.

So I’m learning to die.

When that someone I’m interested in is not interested back in the same way, it’s a chance to die.

When God’s promises for me seem delayed yet again, it’s a chance to die.

When my timetable is once again frustrated, it’s a chance to die.

I can look at so many setbacks and failures and challenges as obstacles in my way or as chances to die. It all depends on whether I factor God into my situation or not. I can see life as being all about me and get really bitter really fast, or see life as about God and His kingdom and be excited that I get to be a part of it.

Maybe it’s not about how I can fit God into my life and into my own story, but how God will fit me into His story (His story=history. Get it? See how clever I am? Ok, that was lame) It’s about God setting all things right again and how I get to be in on that.

So look at each of your problems and frustrations as a chance to die. See them as God’s way of growing you up a little. See them as a way you can look a little more like Jesus every single day.

Amen and amen.