Living Beyond the Norm

I am a sucker for those 'faith in humanity restored' post that you will find spamming your Facebook feed or your Pinterest (if you have one of those). Basically every time even if I have read it before or saw that video already, I usually ending up crying --ahem, may have bawled a few times but don't tell anyone that.  Once again today I saw a video of a man who had rescued over 600 children during the Holocaust and met them for the first time many years later. I had a good little cry. I wondered though as I watched this video, what resonants with me so much with these type of videos? Why do they struck such a cord?
 It gives me hope. It gives me hope that the Lord is still working through his creation. His goodness is still seen. These acts defy human nature, which is selfish at its core. It is people who are willing to step out or who are willing to take that time out of their day to make a difference in someone's life.
It also I think a window into what the church would look like if they radically followed Christ. The church is not perfect, which I fully realize as being part of it, but it is something we can strive for. To live differently from the cultural norm. To live differently from what is defined as human nature.
These type of videos and posts also inspire me. I think I would love to say at the end of my life that I saved a person's life or countless lives. To make a difference in this world, at least to that one starfish. The caution though is that I am not doing this for my own glory but rather for the one who created and saved me, Jesus Christ. I know that I am called to be the light and salt of the world. I am called to be Christ's hands and feet along with the rest of the church. However the Lord wants to work that out into my life, I need to be obedient.
As I was thinking about this, one thing really struck me-- it was the Lord reminding me. In order to be like this, I need to be different from the society around me. I can't live the life of what is considered 'normal' in my culture. I can't afford to be selfish and self-centered, being enveloped in my own world. Once again, it is that reminder that we are not called to the American dream. It is about being sensitive to the Spirit's leading in certain situations, it is about stepping out of what is comfortable.
Honestly, I am writing this more for myself than anyone else. I have so much to learn. I need still to grow so much. The beautiful thing though is that I am not alone. It is Christ who strengthens me, who leads me and brings this change within me. May we all -- including myself-- be obedient to where and what the Lord calls us to in that instance. May we be the light and salt of the earth for Christ.

(sorry if there are any grammatical or spelling errors. I didn't check it over. I just wanted to get my thoughts out before I went back to paper writing).

My November Guest

Well, since it now November, I thought this poem would be appropriate. It is a poem by Robert Frost that I just discovered yesterday, actually. I really love poetry as it really describes the human condition whether it be tragedy or love in such a beautiful way. I guess it is the romanticist coming out in me. There is a reason I enjoy Romanticism paintings so much. Anyways, enjoy!

My November Guest

My Sorrow, when she’s here with me, 

Thinks these dark days of autumn rain

Are beautiful as days can be;

She loves the bare, the withered tree, 

She walks the sodden pasture lane. 

Her pleasure will not let me stay.

She talks and I am fain to list.

She’s glad the birds are gone away,

She’s glad her simple worsted grey

Is silver now with clinging mist.

The desolate, deserted trees,

The faded earth, the heavy sky,

The beauties she so truly sees,

She thinks I have no eye for these, 

And vexes me for reason why.

Not yesterday I learned to know

The love of bare November days

Before the coming of the snow,

But it were vain to tell her so, 

And they are better for her praise.