You Don't Have To Distance Yourself From Those Who Speak Out On Behalf Of You And Your People Group.

Katherine's Favourite Things - Favourite Musical Artist

Okay, you probably wont ever catch me posting about music every again because my tastes are pretty eclectic, and I don’t have a very extensive knowledge of music, but this one time, I really really really wanna write about music.

 My favourite artist is Macklemore. This is unabashedly, unashamedly, a Macklemore appreciation post. And I know that if I’m a Christian I suppose my favourite artist should be like Tenth Avenue North or something (don’t get me wrong – I love Tenth Avenue North, and Sidewalk Prophets, and Bluetree, and Mikeschair and all of those fantastic people) but it’s Macklemore. Furthermore, at least four of the people in my life who are the closest to me have expressed concern at my recent obsession with the poor guy.

 Hear me out.

 Reason #1 why I love Macklemore: He is independently produced.

And the fact that he always has been, and chooses to remain, independently produced and the reasons he does so, tells you a lot about him. Take a look at some of his lyrics…

 “I’d rather be a starving artist than succeed at getting f***ed.” – Jimmy Iovine, Macklemore

 “Not gonna lie, that s*** sounds so nice, but I got creative control and my soul’s mine.” – Victory Lap, Macklemore

 “If I’d done it for the money I’da been a f***ing lawyer.” – Make the Money, Macklemore

 “I was put here to do something before I’m lying in the casket. I’d be lying on the beat if I said I didn’t know what that was.” – Vipassana, Macklemore

 “I make a living off my words and do what I love for work.” – Ten Thousand Hours, Macklemore

 “If I’m not making music, why the f*** am I existing?” – Inhale Deep, Macklemore

 “People fear that if they’re steering away from the mainstream then their album won’t sell. Well I could give a f***. I’m just gonna freestyle and spit what’s in my gut.” – I Said Hey, Macklemore

 Please note, four out of seven of those quotes were taken from songs that were written after he actually became successful. As you can see from his writing, he’s independently produced because this is not about the money for him. He makes music because it’s who he is and what he was made for, and because it’s the only way he knows to express himself. He was actually offered a record deal and turned it down because he prefers to write what he wants instead of what will sell. Admittedly, he has said “I’m not dissin anyone who’s trying to get paid; I’m trying to get paid too.” (BBoy) and “I’ll be honest, I’m tryna become famous.” (Ego) and that’s perfectly understandable and acceptable, but he does it on his own terms, and that deserves mad props.

 Reason #2 why I love Macklemore: He is conscious of the responsibility associated with his platform as a rapper.

Anybody making music for the general public could be called a “role model”. I’ve heard the arguments that it’s not their job to raise your kids and that they never asked to be a role model, and honestly, I call bulls***. Whether you like it or not, the minute you picked up that microphone, stepped into that recording booth or onto that stage, you made yourself a role model. Kids are listening to your lyrics and those words are infiltrating their psyche and shaping their worldview and you better own up to the responsibility that comes with that. It’s up to you what you do with it, but be aware of it.

 And Macklemore gets it. And he uses his power for good and not evil!

 “And if you want to you can go and label me cautious, but remember there’s a kid at a bus stop beat boxing whose life will be affected by what’s inside of his Walkman.” – I Said Hey, Macklemore

 “Us as rappers underestimate the power and the effect that we have on these kids.” – Otherside, Macklemore

 “How can I talk about the problems of someone else when I don’t have the motivation or confidence to change myself?” – Inhale Deep, Macklemore

 “Not to say that I’m a role model, but I know these words are power.” – Contradiction, Macklemore

 “Am I building the empire up or using my fire to burn it down?” – Contradiction, Macklemore

 That last quote there is probably one of my favourites ever of all his lyrics, because it demonstrates his entire philosophy towards making music, and I find it extremely gratifying to know that he is aware of the power in his lyrics and that he’s consciously trying to write things that are productive and edifying and positive.

 Reason #3 why I love Macklemore: He addresses the duality of Caucasian culture.

My mom calls me a reverse racist, because instead of thinking my race is superior to all others, I think that mine is inferior to all others. She’s technically right, but I would like to tell you that that’s not entirely accurate. Okay, from an esthetic point of view, I have to say that white is my personal least favourite. That’s not the point. The point is that I’m kind of uncomfortable being on the privileged side of injustice. You know? My skin colour has such a history of hate and judgment and inhumanity associated with it. My skin colour still gets treated better. And I don’t understand it and I don’t think it’s fair and I don’t know how to deal with that so it manifests itself in this subconscious desire to not be white.

 And I like to think that Macklemore knows what I’m talking about. He wrote an entire song called “White Privilege”, specifically about the “cultural appropriation” of hip hop music by white people, and in that song, he said that we’re “so scared to acknowledge the benefits of our white privilege.” In the song “A Wake”, he says “white privilege, white guilt, at the same d*** time.” I’ve probably never heard a lyric more accurate in describing my feelings towards my pigment.

 Here’s the extended quote:

 “And my subconcious telling me stop it

This is an issue that you shouldn't get involved in

Don't even tweet, R.I.P Trayvon Martin

Don't wanna be that white dude, million man marchin'

Fighting for a freedom that my people stole

Don't wanna make all my white fans uncomfortable

But you don't even have a f***in' song for radio

Why you out here talkin race, tryin' to save the f***in' globe

Don't get involved with the causes in mind

White privilege, white guilt, at the same d*** time

So we just party like it's nineteen ninety nine

Celebrate the ignorance while these kids keep dying”

 Snap.

 Reason #4 why I love Macklemore: His transparency.

In the song “Can’t Hold Us”, he says “I shed my skin and put my bones into everything I record” and that’s a pretty good way to describe it. He’s completely genuine in all his writing.

 “A lifelong passion, journey and drive; an emcee. People ask me what it means/I don’t know where to start – it’s the deepest connection between my soul and my heart”

…

“This s*** ain’t complicated man just be who you are.”

…

“Now who’s got the passion? Stand the h*** up! Cause I wanna hear somebody rappin who’s got it inside their cuts. Or you can get intricate displayin your fancy cadences, but if you’re not speakin truth you might as well not be saying s***.”

…

“If I don’t speak me, what’s the difference between my lyrics and what you hearin on MTV?”

-I Said Hey, Macklemore

 “Whatever happened to the heart that pumped the passion into the art?”

…

“If you gotta think to feel, that’s not rapping that’s acting.”

…

“In the end what’s classic? Radio bubble-gum or a voice filled with passion?”

-BBoy, Macklemore

 “I use my veins to create the colour I paint from. Delve into something til my heart becomes my paintbrush.” 

…

“I stare into this paper instead of sitting in a cubicle/take all the ugly s*** inside and try to make it beautiful/use the cement from rock bottom and make it musicle/so people can relate to where I’ve been, where I’m going, what I’ve seen, what I’ve heard.”

-Vipassana, Macklemore

 “Now for artists and musicians you see the target’s to listen to the heart and then script it with no margin or limits. To make the pain, strengths, sunrays a part of the picture and convey it in every shade and take it farther and vivid.” – As Soon As I Wake Up, Macklemore

 To me, this demonstrates a respect for the art form and his true passion as an artist. You will never find a song on one of his albums that doesn’t draw either from his own experiences or his own convictions. He’s adamant about the dangers of talking about things in your music that you haven’t lived yourself. And now I know a lot about him and his life just by listening to his lyrics and what I see through those words inspires respect and admiration.

 Reason #5 why I love Macklemore: His humility.

I have mad respect for people who strive to remain humble, especially when they’re routinely performing for thousands and thousands of screaming fans. He wrote an entire song (“Ego”) about the ego associated with hip-hop culture, and the evidence of that same ego inside of himself, and the struggle to conquer the ego.

 “Put those gloves on, sparring with my ego.” – Ten Thousand Hours, Macklemore

 “I got my city right behind me. If I fall, they got me. Learn from that failure, gain humility, and then we keep marching.” – Can’t Hold Us, Macklemore

 “I’m just a flawed man, man I f***ed up. Like so many others I just never thought I would.” – Starting Over, Macklemore

 In case you didn’t know, Macklemore used to be a drug addict and an alcoholic and went to rehab and got clean and was clean for 3+ years and then relapsed. The song Starting Over is about his relapse. It’d break your heart. The first time I heard it, I kinda just wanted to give him a hug. Some of the lyrics:

 “Everyone that put me in some box as a saint that I never was, just a false prophet that never came.”

 “Will they think that everything that I’ve written has all been fake or will I just take my slip to the grave?”

 “I’d rather live telling the truth and be judged for my mistakes than falsely held up, given props, loved and praised.”

 “God wrote Otherside, the pen was in my hand. I’m just a flawed man, man I f***ed up. Like so many others I just never thought I would. I never thought I would. Didn’t pick up the book, but doing it by myself didn’t turn out that good.”

 “If I can be an example of getting sober, then I can be an example of starting over.”

 It takes great strength and vulnerability to be so open about your failings, your mistakes and your struggles to millions of strangers. He doesn’t mind being imperfect, even in his position as a popular musical artist. That humility will keep him grounded, and it will protect him from the pressure in his culture of music and media. There will never be a scandal about him because he’d probably be the first one to admit his mistake to his fans, in a song. That integrity is rare and valuable.

 Reason #6 why I love Macklemore: His commitment to his fiancée.

They’re engaged after seven years of dating. ‘Nuff said.

 Actually, not enough said. Let’s talk about this girl – Tricia Davis – shall we? This chick is phenomenal. I can’t imagine it’s easy sticking with someone through addiction, rehab and relapse. And she’s been with him since his humble beginnings all through his rise to fame. The way he talks about her in songs like Love Song and The End is truly touching and so an extension of my respect for Macklemore is my respect for his fiancée.

 Reason #7 why I love Macklemore: He uses his struggles to help other people.

Okay, so he screwed up. We all do. The truly amazing thing is that he’s completely turned his life around and is using his past mistakes for good. He’s very open about his battle with addiction in his music and the song Otherside has reached thousands of people who either struggle themselves or know someone who struggle with addiction. He’s a shining beacon of hope for everyone who is trying to quit or kick the habit. How many of us can say that we can take our failures and turn them into something positive? That’s just his attitude towards life – keep marching, keep looking forward, and use everything that’s behind you to propel you onward. Incredible.

 Reason #8 why I love Macklemore: the sheer quality content of his songs and the fact that he tackles tough issues head-on.

This is the reason I’ve always loved rap more than any other genre. Because I am a very words oriented person, I appreciated the songs with a story and with profound messages than the fluffy worship songs that were just the same three lines over and over again. It’s just me – a well-constructed sentence, not a pretty tune, tugs on my heartstrings. So when I discovered (very late in his career, I am ashamed to admit) this rapper on pop radio, I was astounded and impressed that the same guy who had a song on the top hits with Ryan Seacrest, was rapping about these topics:

Homelessness (see “City Don’t Sleep”)

Racism (See “A Wake”, “Claiming This City”, and “White Privilege”)

Homophobia (See “Same Love”)

Consumerism (See “Make the Money” and “Jimmy Iovine”)

Materialism (See “Wing$”)

The justice system – specifically juvenile incarceration (See “Soldiers)

Politics – through satire (See “Bush Song” and “American”)

Religion (See “Church” and “Neon Cathedral”)

Drugs (See “Vipassana”, “Inhale Deep”, “Otherside” and “Starting Over”)

 Like, are we not gonna talk about this? I’m so proud of him because someone who actually talks about stuff that matters made it to number one on iTunes! He’s the type of artist who makes you want to go right out and change the world. So I’ll leave you with one final quote of his:

 “You wanna see change? Then put your ones in the air. Then point em to yourself cause change starts right there.” – City Don’t Sleep, Macklemore.

 And he lives it.

 Sooooo….in conclusion: dear friends and family, I think the question here is not “why do I love Macklemore so much?”, it’s “Why don’t you??”

 Who’s your favourite band/musical artist?

“God made us then whispered “think symphony, not solo.” Individually capable, collectively unbelievable.”

— Bob Goff (via littlethingsaboutgod)

"I'm Not Like Other Girls"

Katherine rants about why the above statement is problematic. 

*pinned post*

I'm Katherine. She/her. White, cis queer woman.

This is gonna be SO long. I'm so sorry.

TL;DR : uhhh...i'm Christian but hopefully not one of THOSE Christians? (trying, learning and working not to be)

Let's start with side blogs, then a cut.

@tootiredfortiktok personal blog. Ranting, shitposting, whatever I want.

@fandomofisolation tv shows, books, movies, etc. Currently there's a lot of Our Flag Means Death, 9-1-1 and Supernatural (i know, yikes, haha)

@tellmethestoryofyourtattoos art, photography, travel, stories, cute animals

@clearancelevelneedtoknow human rights, social justice, education, science, resources

@justspngifsrbs reblogging Supernatural gifs (made at the peak of my relapse into an obsession with that stupid, brilliant, awful, wonderful, hilarious, tragic mess)

I have one other secret side blog. If I liked a bunch of your posts that don't fit the theme of this blog or any of my other side blogs, you'll know what my secret side blog is about and why it's secret.

If you're here because you saw that I followed you or liked a bunch of your posts, here's what you should know:

Sometimes, the discrepancy between the vibes of this blog and the blogs I follow or the posts I like may give you pause. I get it. Don't worry, I PROMISE I am not trying to evangelize you. I use tumblr for a lot of different things. This was my first tumblr blog and is therefore still my main blog. Over the years, I've made others for different areas of my interests. I mostly reblog from the side blogs listed above.

Now. If you found me through one of the posts that I made on this blog itself, there are some things you should know about me which will allow you to contextualize the stuff I say here.

I AM a Christian. I don't really know how to define that except to say that I believe in a higher power, who has consciousness and will. And I believe that all of reality originated from and is still maintained by that higher power. My concept of that higher power aligns most closely with the Christian concept of God.

I am currently deconstructing and reconstructing my faith.

I grew up in a family that attended a church that's part of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland and Labrador, which is in turn part of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship.

Some stuff about NL pentecostal culture:

- no drinking, smoking or drugs. Most are teetotalers (if someone in the community does drink or smoke, it's a little rebellious/scandalous/taboo). For communion, we use grape juice.

- no sex before marriage

- teeeeeeeechnically, no divorce either

- gambling is also taboo. Older people in small, rural towns even avoid playing cards altogether, just because of the association with gambling.

- my mom's generation is weird about dancing. She almost didn't let me go to prom because it was a dance. It's basically like the movie Footloose - "dances are events where teenagers might engage in risky behavior like drinking, drugs and sexual promiscuity. Therefore, dancing must be banned." That's on its way out, I think.

- similar to the dancing one, my grandparents' generation was weird about movie theatres. That has passed.

- women CAN be pastors (clergy). Divorced people cannot.

- divorced people and unwed mothers are allowed to volunteer at church stuff (as layfolk) but gay people are not.

- my church is trying to be diverse. That means they're trying to create a community that welcomes, includes, celebrates and values people of all ethnicities and cultures. They're not perfect but I can say that they're trying.

- they're pretty chill about mental health stuff, as far as i can tell.

- at my church, the lead pastor is a white man (the lead pastors at most NL pentecostal churches are white men, and the leaders of the paonl are white men). Two other pastors are white men. One is a white woman. One is a woman who is either white or mixed race. I do not know for sure. I've never asked her. Three other people on staff at the church in layfolk paid positions are two white women and a woman of colour. There are also nine women on staff as part of the "Community Connections and Conversation Cafe (ESL)" team. Four are white, five are women of colour.

- so basically, I can say that they are not intentionally, maliciously, overtly misogynistic, racist or ableist. Obviously they are still part of a religious institution that exists in this province and country because of settler colonialism. Obviously the same systematic inequalities that are inherent in schools, healthcare, government and all colonial institutions are also inherent in this one. I can say that, within the obvious limitations of that context, they are trying to be feminist, accessible and anti-racist.

- they're struggling with fully embracing non-cishet folx. I know that within the NL pentecostal community, there are individuals who support me and are fully affirming of my relationship with my wife as a normal, healthy, God-honouring relationship. But they are the minority. And like officially, my wife and I are not allowed to volunteer at any NL pentecostal churches or with any NL pentecostal events. We are welcomed and accepted and included as attendees when we go to church. It's just that, for us, volunteering with kids and youth programs has always been an integral part of faith and participating in church so it kinda sucks that we can't do it anymore.

Some stuff NL pentecostal churches believe:

- God is sort of like a person, more or less. An intangible, invisible, immortal, pure-spirit, omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent person-like entity. With will, consciousness and feelings. He loves, He hurts, He gets angry, He gets sad, He grieves.

- God made the whole universe from nothing, by speaking.

- God is the only God. He's the only entity like Himself that exists, and everything else in existence came from Him. I am pretty sure that PAONLers believe that if there is some kind of spiritual entity that is neither God nor human, it's either an angel or a demon. Christians in general don't believe in djinn or in other deities/minor deities.

- humans were made in the image of God. So i guess it's less that God is a person-like entity, and more that humans are God-like little dudes.

- humans have souls, which are...from what I understand, one of the three essential things that make up a human (body, mind and soul), and are sort of like intangible, immutable, immortal imprints of one's identity and one's choices on earth. I think many people think that a version of your consciousness is stored in your soul, which will have awareness after your earthly body dies.

- the bible is the "inspired, infallible, authoritative" word of God

- the trinity: God the father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit, three in one

- Jesus is the Son of God. He was fully God and fully man. Virgin birth. He died and came back to life then ascended to Heaven where He is now chillin and will eventually come back to earth "in power and glory to rule a thousand years"

- the Holy Spirit allows people to speak in "toungues", which is a supernatural prayer language unique to each person. It is the Holy Spirit speaking directly to God the Father through a believer's mouth, without involving the believer's brain. It cannot be understood by any human, including the one speaking it (unless the Holy Spirit gives someone else the supernatural gift of interpretation).

- angels, demons, demon possession and miracles (including raising people from the dead, healing the body, and "signs and wonders") are all real, actual things that exist and have happened and do still happen today

- believers are supposed to get baptized in water as a public declaration of their faith

- believers are supposed to participate in communion (which, for pentecostals, is the metaphorical, not literal, consumption of Jesus' flesh and blood) as a reminder of Jesus' death and resurrection until He comes back

- on the topic of Jesus coming back, NL pentecostals believe in "the Rapture" which is supposedly when Jesus comes back, all believers living and dead will be raised up into the air, like being beamed up onto a spaceship. Or they'll just vanish into thin air, leaving behind clothing, shoes, glasses, etc., if you believe the "Left Behind" book series.

- there is an eternal afterlife, and the only two options are Heaven or Hell

- preeeeeeeetty sure PAONLers officially don't believe in ghosts. I'm pretty sure they think the door to another plane of existence is one-way only. Like I said, only two options, and PAONLers believe that both those options are eternal and irrevocable.

- anyone who is "saved" goes to Heaven

- anyone who is not "saved" goes to Hell

- God doesn't want anyone to go to hell so He sent Jesus to take our sins upon Himself

- When Jesus was dying on the cross, He assumed all the guilt for all humans who ever were and ever would be

- the only way to be "saved" is to believe in Jesus as the Son of God who died and came back to life, accept Him as your Lord and Savior, and profess said belief and acceptance

If you're into theology, and these words have meaning for you, here are some terms that apply to NL pentecostals:

- Protestant

- Evangelical

- Charismatic

- Biblical inerrancy

- Finished Work Pentecostalism (progressive sanctification)

- Trinitarian

- Premillenial dispensationalism

- Pretribulation Rapture

- Arminianism

- Security of the believer (conditional upon continual faith and repentance)

- Continuationism

So that's where I come from. That's how I grew up. That's what influenced the beginning of my faith.

Now. Where am I going? Well, I don't know. But like I said, I'm still a Christian. That label still feels right. I'm currently in the process of deconstructing and reconstructing. I don't want to just take away from everything I was taught by the Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland and Labrador. I only want to add to it. Not in the sense that I want to believe everything. That's admittedly rather difficult, because a lot of different Christian beliefs are opposites of each other. I want to add to what I've been taught in the sense that I want to know, and understand, what other sects believe and why. I probably won't know, within this lifetime, which view is "right". Maybe it doesn't matter.

My wife, who is very wise, said, "I just don't have the energy to try to figure it all out. I know I love God, and we have to love other people. I guess we'll find out the rest eventually. I am hanging on to my faith with my last little bit of strength. So I just want to use that bit of strength to focus on loving God, being loved by Him, and loving everyone else the way He loves them."

Some highlights of my current belief:

- "God" is an entity. God has consciousness and will. God is the only *anything* that is real and has always been. All of reality as we know it flows from, is part of, and is maintained by God.

- i think that God's form is pure energy. And I think that energy is love. I think God = love = energy. I don't just think that all love is from God; I think all love is God. Same goes for energy. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed. God always was, always is, and always will be. All of matter is made of molecules, which are made of atoms, which are made of protons, neutrons and electrons, which are made of quarks, which are energy. God is over all and through all and in all. So I think that all of reality is energy which is love which is God (like the force in Star Wars). And love, as a force, is the most powerful force in reality. Stronger than gravity (like in the movie "Interstellar"). Faster than light. More powerful than life and death.

- science is legit. Science is just an attempt to understand reality. If all reality is God, then science is one way to understand God. Science, math, art, music, language, belief, thought, relationships between humans are all ways to understand, and engage with, the divine. So whatever the scientists can prove with evidence and solid methodology and peer reviewal, i'm on board. Evolution? Yep. I'm good. Climate change? Yeah. Same page. Age of the earth? Yes. Dinosaurs? Yes. Hominids other than homo sapiens (e.g. H. neanderthalis)? Yes. All of it. Whatever science is offering, I'm taking.

- Trinitarian vs Oneness (i.e. is God three in one, God the father, God the son, or God the Holy Spirit, separate entities but all God? Or are the father the son and the holy spirit all different forms of the same dude - just God?) My belief: yes? Both? Who cares?

- was Jesus fully God AND fully man? Was Jesus the Son of God? Or just a normal human fully filled with the Holy Spirit? My belief: Yes? Both? Who cares?

- did Jesus actually die and come back to life? My belief: mmm.....yeah, I'm still feelin' that it's a yes on that one. That's important to me. Haven't let go of that one yet.

- is the Bible infallible and inerrant? My belief: ummmm.......I don't think so. I am no longer really vibing with that particular theology.

- did God make the world in a literal seven days in the exact order described in Genesis chapter 1? My belief: nahhh.

- When Jesus comes back, are believers, living and dead, going to float up into the air like they're being beamed up onto a spaceship? My belief: I mean, I feel like this could go either way. On the one hand, I see no reason to take that literally. On the other hand, why not? I'd believe weirder.

- are angels and demons real? My belief: well, i think so. But i doubt that they are anything like what we think. I believe in a spiritual realm and i believe that there may be entities that exist on that "plane".

- do people get possessed by demons and can those demons be cast out of the hosts? My belief: i'm thinking yes and yes.

- does each individual human have a specially-assigned guardian angel? My belief: i mean, I feel like that's unlikely,but what do I know?

- are people who speak in tongues really filled with the Holy Spirit? Is that a legit supernatural event? My belief: yeah, I think so. Why not? I'd believe weirder.

- do miracles still happen? Like raising people from the dead? Healing the sick and injured? Signs and wonders? My belief: yeah, I think so. Why not? I'd believe weirder.

(To be continued. I am working on this post in fits and starts. I will talk more about my de/reconstruction journey eventually)

I live ur blog :)))))))) so much

Aww! :) Thanks bro!

Where do you draw the line at what's appropriate sexually before marriage?

I’m pretty conservative, so kissing is my limit. Like, I don’t want hands going ANYWHERE, not even above the belt. :P I try to follow these rules: 1. No clothes are coming off. 2. Don’t touch me anywhere that would be covered by a bikini.

I just do this because the road to sex is a very slippery slope, and I’m worried that once you start down that slope, it’s really hard to stop. And to me, it’s too much of a risk to take, so I’d prefer to stay faaaaaar away from that slope at all, and make absolutely certain that nothing’s gonna happen. I just don’t know how strong my will power is, and I’d really prefer not to find out, haha :P

Thanks for the question! Peace and love! -Katherine

I loved your response about Margery Kempe, but I take issue with the "too heavenly minded" quote. Borrowing from Randy Alcorn's book Heaven, being heavenly minded is something missed in the Church today. Paul was very heavenly minded, but that drove him to focus all the more on serving Christ on earth. I think the two go hand-in-hand for Christians. If our heavenly focus is neglected, we are more likely to become wrapped up in things of this world that do not last.

Aw hi! Thanks for that :) I'm really happy you took the time to tell me that you liked my response. And also, that is a very excellent point!  I agree that there is definitely a rampant and dangerous pandemic of people who are far too earthly minded to be of any heavenly good. And really, I'd rather be of heavenly good than of earthly good because forever is an awfully long time, and if what I do only has any significance in this world, then I've essentially accomplished nothing. I suppose that I used the quote rather flippantly because I agree with you that heavenly thinking should truly be our motivator for...everything. And that everything we do in this world should be done with the consciousness of the double consequences: natural and supernatural consequences. Again, thanks so much for stopping by to chat :) And thank you for pointing out that blind spot in my earlier response. :) 

I'm pretty unexceptional looking...

And I'm about to tell you why that statement means absolutely nothing.

Most people would not describe their appearance as special or extraordinary. If someone were to ask you if you're attractive, you'd either say no, or you'd proceed to give a vague, equivocating description of your mediocre beauty. Even supermodels and movie stars have acute and sever insecurities. There's not a single person in this world who legitimately views themselves as head-turning attractive. In fact, I think we're all too comfortable with the idea of looking "average". We style our hair the way everyone else is doing it. We wear the same clothes every one else does. We all just want to blend in and not draw undue attention to our person. Our fondest wish is to look like everyone else. Do you deny it? 

HOWEVER, not one of us believes that we really are actually like everyone else. Whether you think that's a good thing or a bad thing is not for me to decide, but you know that you're unique. You know you're different from every single other person around you. If you do think that's a bad thing, I'm here to tell you that it's not. You have interests, skills, talents and passions that are unique and entirely your own. And that's awesome and super cool and you are special and amazing specifically because you are not like any single other human on the planet. 

But here's my point. Judging by appearances is literally the dumbest thing ever because the outward appearance gives absolutely no indication of who someone is. Too often we get too caught up in the outward appearance and it consumes us. We narrow our minds to the here and now, the tangible and touchable. Even though the physical body is present and right in front of us right now, it is a meagre representation of the person inside. Every single person is exceptional and extraordinary. People who look perfectly average and even might look "boring" have entire galaxies inside their heads. They have unwritten novels and unheard music and unknown inventions inside of them. They have love stories and ancient histories and imagined eternities in their hearts. So even though we spend most of our time trying to blend into our surroundings, our characters make us stand out from the crowd because of our various vibrant and dynamic personalities. 

That was definitely not as deep as I thought it was. I wish I could impress upon you how incredibly important this is to me. I don't even know if that made sense, I just really really wanted to tell you all my thoughts on this topic. 

Peace and love!  -Katherine

love.

If Jesus lived today, he would smell like smoke.

Whether it be from pot or from cigarettes or whatever else can be smoked, Jesus would smell like it. Not because he would partake in it himself, but because he would go out of his way to go to where the smokers were. He would go to them and be with them, get to know them and show them that they are worthy of love and that they can be saved from whatever they’re running from.

Jesus would know the sensation of stale beer drying on his shirt because somebody forgot to put their drink down before they hugged him. He’d never get drunk but he might have one beer, maybe two, socializing as he got to know the regulars at the bar. The ones who found their way there day after day, hearts too heavy to do anything but numb the pain. He’d go there and listen to their stories and help carry their burdens, lift them off their shoulders. He would be the person that everybody knew—knew was safe, knew was loving, knew would listen. The bartender would call him the ‘unofficial shrink’, and Jesus would smile and order another glass of water, ready to drive home whoever would need it that night.

He’d know the feel of gauze beneath his fingers as he wrapped it around a friend’s bleeding wrist. He wouldn’t ask, wouldn’t pry, just patiently clean and treat it with careful, calming touches. The story would eventually come tumbling out in the bathroom and Jesus would draw them close, hugging tightly, and do whatever he could to find the best help available when asked, when needed.

He would know the drained, yet relieved, morning after feel the day after (of?) a three a.m. phone call from a person who was desperate, because they didn’t know who else they could turn to. He would know the days when one cup of coffee isn’t enough to wake him up, where two cups of coffee almost doesn’t do it either, but the lethargy and the headache and the bags under his eyes are worth it because the person he was talking to is okay. He would do it again in a heartbeat, too.

He would always have somebody staying in his spare bedroom—if he wasn’t staying in somebody else’s spare bedroom himself. He knows what it is to be without a roof over his head, without a blanket to pull over his cold body, and he would do whatever he could to make sure others didn’t need to experience it—even just for a night. He’d keep an eye out for help wanted ads and help his friends on the street with their resumes and pay for their haircut and nice clothing for the interview, and he’d buy them dinner after whether they got the job or not.

He would know the need to go and grab another box of kleenex as the person at his kitchen table can’t help but cry at the feeling of not being enough, of needing to change themselves before people would love them, before they would be accepted. He would know the heave of their shoulders beneath his hand as he comforted them, reassured them that they are enough, that they are wonderful and beautiful and amazing and loved. So, so loved.

He would know the feeling of a tight bank account, not because he doesn’t know how to manage his finances, but because there are other people who need it more. Who need food for their families and clothing for their children and money for their rent. He would give of himself and build relationships with these people, connections with them, encouraging them to keep going. To keep striving. That life isn’t out to get them, and that they can succeed.

He would know the pain of a harsh word, thrown at him by a hurting soul, and he would stand tall and take it because sometimes a broken heart just needs to shout.

If Jesus lived today, he would smell like smoke. Not because he approves or because he doesn’t care, but because he knows that to love isn’t just being pleasant to other people and giving them a smile, it’s crawling into the trenches with them.