Author, Artist & Armchair Theorist
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Store

Ramblings
Sometimes I stumble, but it's okay as long as I get up and keep moving forward...

Confirmed or Convicted

1/29/2020

2 Comments

 
Picture
In an attempt to increase my productivity and reduce anxiety, I have gone back to studying scripture first thing in the morning - Stop right there!  Some of you reading this have just shut down your receptors, haven't you? Why? Is my meditative practice such a threat? Are you afraid you might read something that conflicts with your belief system? Hear me out then, please.

As an author, I have tried not to offend with my "world view", believing that a good story needs to be shared. I didn't want the world I created to be only for those who think like me, and, trusted that if someone wanted to dive deeper for meanings they could, while those just looking for a little escapism could find that, too - much like C.S. Lewis did with The Chronicles of Narnia.

Lewis lived in a time when good writing was appreciated despite personally held points of view. He, along with Chesterton, Tolkien and other Christians were widely read in their time because of the quality of their work, not because the reader always agreed with their morality, which was openly displayed. Though I don't claim the same intellectual depth or comparable ability to entertain as these greats, I do share Chesterton's and Tolkien's profession of faith. (Lewis made an effort to avoid espousing any particular denomination.) Yet, despite believing, I have rarely shared anything online that acknowledges my religious beliefs, fearing it could turn off a large segment of readers. I do it for you, right? Trying not to offend you.

Why, then, did I feel so convicted this morning when I pulled out my Bible? 

Fence sitting has it's downside - kind of like going to college for four years and never declaring a major; who can tell what you actually know?

Even God, it seems, wants to see the proof in the pudding. There is a verse in Matthew's gospel (bear with me, agnostic and atheist friends) that says "Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven, but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in Heaven." You may or may not believe in God, as is your prerogative, and if you definitely don't, then that scripture verse shouldn't bother you at all! The fact that I believe He gave you the free will to decide that shouldn't affect my ability to entertain you any more than it affects, say, your choice of a dentist or grocer. Or is it that words are more of a threat than dental drills and produce aisles? Are my "subliminal powers of persuasion" going to keep you from enjoying a romp through enchanted landscapes with fantastical creatures, any more than price markdowns and colorful signage are going to make you switch toothpaste brands, or give up shopping for food? Maybe. Maybe not. 
​

I like to look for what unites, rather than what divides us; that is a major theme in my work. However, I weary of pretending I don't have a system of belief, that I am unerringly neutral. I am tired of sitting on the fence. There is too much polarization in the world we live in today and, yes, I would rather not add to it, though I would like to grow. In order to grow, I first need to acknowledge where, and who, I am. I am a Christian. Not always a very good  one, but that goes without saying.
​
​In my mind, we are ALL God's children, naive in our understanding of what is, and what is yet to be...

Picture

...and understanding only grows when we are open to growth. 
​

Though you won't hear me preach it so blatantly in my novels, Jesus didn't come to abolish fences, but to become a gateway. It wouldn't be very Christian of me to keep Him all to myself. He wants everyone to win, to enjoy green pastures. It is not my place to decide where you are in relation to the fence, or the Gate. Thanks for understanding that it is not yours to decide where I need to be either. Thanks for letting me grow.

Picture
2 Comments
Sue DeKett
1/30/2020 06:01:06 pm

Congratulations on jumping off the fence. I believe we are first and foremost a child of the living God. I, too, avoided proclaiming so as not to offend. But I realized, through a very unique encounter, that I am who I am. Take me as I am or feel free to leave me. I would rather be disliked and abandoned by others than be a disappointment to my God. He will not abandon me because I am made in His image and likeness. He created me because He believed the world needed me, even if in a small way. So I decided I would not downplay my beliefs but rather celebrate them. I do not intend to push them on to other but only make it evident, if necessary, to let the world know who I am. I don't have to preach it, I just have to live it quietly. The unique experience I alluded to earlier took place at a school in which I taught. It took place between 1980 and 1985. A classroom assistant that I did not know well (she worked across the hall from me) approached me one day to let me know she was taking classes to convert to Catholicism. I was happy for her and asked her what made her decide to convert. Her response was simple but had powerful ramifications for me. She simply said she sees how I live my life in terms of faith and integrity and she wanted what I had. It took me completely by surprise because, you see, I had never fully grasped how much people base their opinions of me on how I live my life. I did not see myself as being influential to others. It brought home a huge sense of responsibility and how easy it is to mislead or lead. While I was honored, it caused me to be more determined than ever to live what I believe. But scripture says woe to us if we are ever the cause of leading the innocent down the wrong path. It was a great learning experience for me. I'm not perfect. It's a learning process and ongoing. But I'm determined to stick to the path in my own quiet way. Daily, I ask the Lord to use me in whatever way He sees fit. All I have to do is my best, because He will carry the rest.

Reply
Thomas Peterson link
10/29/2022 03:45:20 pm

More ready billion above away article better. Lead seek road that evidence he. Itself investment expert main. Water now show would sea catch account.

Reply



Leave a Reply.


    C.A. Morgan

    I write because that's how  I process  my thoughts and engage the world. And, hopefully, my musings will encourage you to follow your dreams too.

    Archives

    June 2020
    April 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos from redjar, nojhan, symphony of love, Oliver Liegmann, gvgoebel, MattysFlicks, Luci Correia, Bert Kaufmann, BLMOregon, Karsten Hitzschke, Ryan Dickey, trendingtopics, rawdonfox, Johnragai-Moment Catcher, Masa Sakano, dee_dee_creamer, The Photo Journey, aaronrhawkins, jonathan.leung, liyagella, ups2006, Danijel J, @MilesFromDevon, Tambako the Jaguar, Anna Panáková, themostinept, Wilfredor, symphony of love, Alan Cleaver, Courtney Emery, Tambako the Jaguar, HockeyholicAZ, symphony of love, Harald Groven, patchattack, torbakhopper, ProFlowers.com, andreaarden, Yokohama Boat Theatre, judy dean, jonseidman, stevendepolo, Tambako the Jaguar, vince42, Alejandro Pinto, Katie Tegtmeyer, LeonArts.at, varresa, jl_2, Arya Ziai, shixart1985 (CC BY 2.0), Arya Ziai, chitowngal66_tx, WorldIslandInfo.com, jacobsons, nillamaria, STC4blues, aquigabo!, Renaud Camus, Sister72, Raphael Perez Israeli Artist, susivinh, Artotem, nevil zaveri (thank you for 10 million+ views :), born1945, weegeebored, RendeUV, what's_the_frequency, Lukes_photos, Celestine Chua, Wonderlane, Angelia's Photography, N@ncyN@nce, Boston Public Library, MoreLife81, Prestonbot, pixelmattic, The Cleveland Kid, Jangra Works, REM Photo, nggalai, celebrityabc, Ace MegaRex, Rob Briscoe, anjanettew, dalecruse, Mufidah Kassalias, frankieleon, davidmulder61, symphony of love, snappitt photography, Ahmed Sadoon, amy.gizienski, kilgarron, mripp, eastmidtown, YourCastlesDecor, tammylo, Mark B. Schlemmer, symphony of love, Dimitris Graffin, Prestonbot, PiConsti, SuperCar-RoadTrip.fr, whatsthatpicture, katerha, steve p2008, Frank Boston (bostonsphotos), Philippe Put, PrevisioniMeteo, garryknight, Håkan Dahlström, Olgierd Pstrykotwórca, Sister72, amy.gizienski, amseaman, Jeff.Dlouhy, Celestine Chua, BLW Photography, Maëlick, USFWS Mountain Prairie, Bennilover, vendicatorre, ToOliver2, Ingrid Taylar, symphony of love, *_*, RLHyde, PicsofAB, symphony of love, Björn S..., Ruth and Dave, dno1967b, shixart1985, symphony of love, frankieleon, Mark Fischer, COD Newsroom, 401(K) 2013, wheatfieldbrown, errase, regan76, matheusswanson, symphony of love, ender7.wiggin, seedoubleyouaretoo, Suzanne Schroeter, marcoverch, symphony of love, Castles, Capes & Clones, wuestenigel, Iain A Wanless, Roman Pfeiffer
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Store