Patterns And Conformity
Patterns. We use them in everyday life whether
we realize it or not, from the time we get up until we rest our heads
our individual worlds are based on a specific set of patterns. We've
gotten so used to them that they are a part of our daily
routine, rarely do we change them and there is nothing wrong with that
because of discipline, consistency and conformity. We have to get up to
prepare for work, get the children ready for school, if you have dogs
make sure that they are taken for their walks at a specific time frame,
etc. Our patterns that we conform to also provides guidelines to those
who's lives are affected by how we live ours, so it is important that we
exemplify those things that will encourage, teach, build up and guide,
and do those things in and through love.
But sometimes things happen that centers in and breaks up the normal routine that ends up distracting the pattern. It could be a family emergency or maybe the car won't start or the bus is late, a child can get sick or something weather related...unexpected things do happen and some of those things need to be dealt with immediately. They take us out of that comfort zone that we have settled into into a place that disrupts the flow, that energy now has to be transferred into dealing with a new situation.
Most of the time those interruptions can be handled and fixed so that we can resume what we have conformed to without further hindrances, but at times there are others that require more of our time. One must then think, 'is it possible to work around this situation to the best of my ability, or is this something that is going to change and affect my life?'
I'm sure the victims of Hurricane Sandy as well as others who have lost all they have due to natural disasters want nothing more than to get back to the lives they were living. Unfortunately if their homes and source of living/income was destroyed, then they have to start over and for those that have suffered in that, my heart goes out to them.
However, with the stories that I have read and the news clips that I have seen, these people, although understandably very angry and upset about the events that brought them there, are fighting back, fighting to start things over, fighting to regain that sense of stability, and striving to move forward. And that is a good thing, but what am I getting at, what is this leading to?
I sat in my living room listening to the winds from Sandy pound my apartment, and watched as the rain literally seemed to lift up like a sheet and fly through the air. I watched debris racing through the air and listened to what sounded like a strong whistle in the wind, like a train speeding through a tunnel. After it was all over, the next day as I watched the news, I saw something that brought me to tears. There was a woman who had lost EVERYTHING, recruiting people to help her feed others who had also lost all or nearly all they had. The patterns of the way she lived her life had been taken away within a matter of minutes and she had no idea what she was going to do. But she took what she still had, the compassion to help others and showed it through feeding the people and organizing places where people could go to get lodging, dry clothes and food.
Others followed her pattern and started doing the same; setting up pages on FB for those who lost their pets, a cousin of a friend of mine set up something in Staten Island NY for people who needed to charge their cell phones, take showers and contact loved ones...all for free.
Although these people lost pretty much all they had, their lives were transformed with new priorities, minds renewed knowing and accepting that although the patterns of their worlds had been uprooted and changed, they took this situation through mind renewal, to help make a difference for others, and set forth new patterns because of the renewal of their minds.
This is what Jesus did for us; He exemplified through His life, death and resurrection a new way; new patterns, a new conformity, a new mindset. The transformation that He experienced on our behalf on the Cross by the shedding of His Blood and through His Resurrection set the new pattern for us to leave the life we lived behind, that is the worldly patterns that we followed, and to start fresh by becoming His followers with a renewed mind. And sometimes it has and will take a change to happen in our lives that disrupts the normal patterns, the normal flow of what we are accustomed to in order for us to see the Light, to see that New Way in order to operate within a renewed mind.
Can we make that decision today to conform to His thoughts, His ways, His heart, His love? Allow Him to be your guide, allow Him to help you conform to His patterns, His way of life.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
But sometimes things happen that centers in and breaks up the normal routine that ends up distracting the pattern. It could be a family emergency or maybe the car won't start or the bus is late, a child can get sick or something weather related...unexpected things do happen and some of those things need to be dealt with immediately. They take us out of that comfort zone that we have settled into into a place that disrupts the flow, that energy now has to be transferred into dealing with a new situation.
Most of the time those interruptions can be handled and fixed so that we can resume what we have conformed to without further hindrances, but at times there are others that require more of our time. One must then think, 'is it possible to work around this situation to the best of my ability, or is this something that is going to change and affect my life?'
I'm sure the victims of Hurricane Sandy as well as others who have lost all they have due to natural disasters want nothing more than to get back to the lives they were living. Unfortunately if their homes and source of living/income was destroyed, then they have to start over and for those that have suffered in that, my heart goes out to them.
However, with the stories that I have read and the news clips that I have seen, these people, although understandably very angry and upset about the events that brought them there, are fighting back, fighting to start things over, fighting to regain that sense of stability, and striving to move forward. And that is a good thing, but what am I getting at, what is this leading to?
I sat in my living room listening to the winds from Sandy pound my apartment, and watched as the rain literally seemed to lift up like a sheet and fly through the air. I watched debris racing through the air and listened to what sounded like a strong whistle in the wind, like a train speeding through a tunnel. After it was all over, the next day as I watched the news, I saw something that brought me to tears. There was a woman who had lost EVERYTHING, recruiting people to help her feed others who had also lost all or nearly all they had. The patterns of the way she lived her life had been taken away within a matter of minutes and she had no idea what she was going to do. But she took what she still had, the compassion to help others and showed it through feeding the people and organizing places where people could go to get lodging, dry clothes and food.
Others followed her pattern and started doing the same; setting up pages on FB for those who lost their pets, a cousin of a friend of mine set up something in Staten Island NY for people who needed to charge their cell phones, take showers and contact loved ones...all for free.
Although these people lost pretty much all they had, their lives were transformed with new priorities, minds renewed knowing and accepting that although the patterns of their worlds had been uprooted and changed, they took this situation through mind renewal, to help make a difference for others, and set forth new patterns because of the renewal of their minds.
This is what Jesus did for us; He exemplified through His life, death and resurrection a new way; new patterns, a new conformity, a new mindset. The transformation that He experienced on our behalf on the Cross by the shedding of His Blood and through His Resurrection set the new pattern for us to leave the life we lived behind, that is the worldly patterns that we followed, and to start fresh by becoming His followers with a renewed mind. And sometimes it has and will take a change to happen in our lives that disrupts the normal patterns, the normal flow of what we are accustomed to in order for us to see the Light, to see that New Way in order to operate within a renewed mind.
Can we make that decision today to conform to His thoughts, His ways, His heart, His love? Allow Him to be your guide, allow Him to help you conform to His patterns, His way of life.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
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