Every now and again, we need to get an assessment of ourselves. We are not good judges of who we are and we can’t base who we are on what we do. Yes, our core selves will come out in our actions and, if we’re lucky, we’ll end up in a profession that best suits and defines us. Until then, life is a journey and we should be open to constant learning. Asking others what they think of us, like our best or worse qualities, is one way to get to know who we truly are.

Have you ever walked into a room and were overwhelmed by the emotional state of other people? You can usually detect who is feeling what simply by looking around. You feel what they feel but you have no background to those emotions. It makes you feel connected and disconnected at the same time. Not unlike getting parts of a picture without being able to see the whole thing. Sometimes you might guess correctly what the picture is supposed to look like and other times you’ll find that you’re no where close.

One man considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. he who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Romans 14:5-8

Probably the worst part of waiting for things to ripen is not knowing when it’s going to be ready. Whether it’s timing, ourselves, or fruit, we have to wait for things to ripen without always knowing what that will look like. Some fruits look different while others don’t seem to change. We can’t always squeeze the pears to see if they’re soft enough yet. We have to wait and trust others to let us know when it’s time. Biting into the right fruit at the wrong time can be just as off-putting as biting into the wrong fruit.

With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous escape. Proverbs 11:9

“Challenge: Daily Devotions for the Common Christian”

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12

I have an appointment coming up and I had to check when it is. I’ve got a few days but I’m already planning out that day. What time I’ll have to leave to get there on time. I remind myself what floor to go to when I arrive. I know I’ll be seeing at least two people. Should I take the highway or the side roads. I’ve got three options to get there, one I certainly don’t want to take. That route causes too much stress even if it’s a shorter time frame. Then again, that shorter trip is based on current traffic conditions and it doesn’t account for lights. The third option is best for gas usage but what will the highway look like at that time of morning on that day?

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.