stop poking!

I have this theory. I believe that people want to be taken more seriously. Humans are fascinating creatures. God created us to yearn for more than this earth can provide. He placed a desire in our hearts that cannot be satiated with what our eyes can see. Many of us will seek after what is satisfying us today. It is a human tendency and one that every person has fallen victim to. If you have not, I have to believe that you have suffocated your heart and denied it of it's God-given desire to desire. The object of our desire is where the fault is.

When I say that people want to be taken seriously, I mean that people want to be heard. And people need to be heard, cared for, and nurtured. While lighthearted quips may not hurt immediately, they eventually add up. It's like getting poked. Nobody likes to get poked. We don't mind poking other people, but it's annoying to be poked. After a while, the pokes turn into bruises and before you know it you are black and blue. A bruise is painful and it can be damaged further by someone else. I hate bruises. They are ugly and irritating and noticeable. Sometimes they take a long time to heal and are completely visible until the healing is complete. It's a long process from just a small poke.

Encouragement and affirmation build much stronger relationships that last longer. My closest friends are the best listeners. They are the ones who don't just hear, but listen to my heart. They ask me about my feelings, my emotions, and what my deepest desires are. They want to know me. Is this not a parallel to God's desire for us? Are we not chasing after his heart? The Bible shows us His character and nature. We see it throughout the history that is told in the Old and New Testaments. It's not an easy story. There's tragedy and struggle and violence. But the end is knowing our Creator. That is what we were created for.

[We live our lives before] the wild, dangerous, unfettered and free character of the living God. - Walter Bruggemann

My work is in people. My nemesis is numbers and words are my friends. But my job and my life revolves around relationships. If I'm not certified to be an expert in anything, I will at least be a professional in knowing people (qualified by my years of experience). I enjoy this, and honestly I feel I am in the best line of work.

Thank you for allowing me to share a piece of my heart. This blog is more personal than I intended, but I can find no other way to say it.