Open to Interpretation
Last year, in an attempt to keep myself from going crazy, I added a slew of books to my daily morning routine. I was going to read a chapter of each a day for the year. Obviously many of those books became new books throughout the year, but one remained… and I am just now finishing a chapter a day of the New Testament. It is one of the most important things I’ve ever done for myself.
I’ve heard many of these stories before, many of these words. But taking them in this way is very different - alone, in my peaceful space, without any other noise, without any other thoughts except my own and those gently given to me. I’m in Revelation now, almost finished, sort of. It has been almost 15 months of this day’s theme, this day’s message for me.
And here’s where I think I’m at… My relationship with my sister doesn’t look exactly like my relationship with my other sister. I love them equally - uniquely, but it is not the same. We are different for each other because we are not the same. None of us are exactly the same. And in a world where I know in the depths of my soul that we were created on purpose, meaningfully in every way, it makes me feel like it’s a little crazy to think that our creator would treat us all the same. That the most intricately crafted parts of your soul would be given the same exact message in the same exact way, knowing that our receivers are different. And so why do we assume that God’s relationship with me, or the message for me will be the same as the one for you? We are loved - fully, completely, and uniquely.
I do not believe that we are given the directives so that we can make sure that humanity carries them out. I believe that the words that resonate are for us, and we should pay attention to that, and live in the goodness of that. So why all the judgment and shame? It is not for me to say what is for you.
I believe that as we all get closer to our own peace, our own words, our own soul’s heartbeat, it brings others into it. We all deserve to have stillness and rest, comfort and peace. We deserve to be free from restless thoughts, and whirling minds. Free from anxiety and fear. We deserve to have peace. And this is where much of mine comes from. And I hope that by coming here, and hopefully taking a little of my peace with you, that it makes you want to find your own, or lean a little deeper into the kind you have.
In reading the words of the New Testament, and letting what’s jumped off of each day’s page sink in, I can tell you, for sure, that I am definitely getting my own interpretation. What I get out of it was made for me to receive what I need from it in this moment, and I hope that’s how it happens for everyone. Someone else’s interpretation of a message that was written for each of us to get what we need from it, I know now, is not the best way to get the message. Now don’t get me wrong, I have heard people say good things that ring loudly in my soul for a time, and times, and half a time. I just think it’s probably best that we all just take a look, and see what pops out at us.
I have found that my God is a loving God, and allowing someone else to interpret this for me for so long was a mistake. I find in the pages an ever-extending invitation into peace within. I find that all there is… is love and peace.
Make it your top priority to live a life of peace with harmony in your relationships, eagerly seeking to strengthen and encourage one another.
Romans 14:19
Let love and kindness be the motivation behind all that you do.
1 Corinthians 16:14
We will show mercy to the poor, and not miss an opportunity to do acts of kindness…
Hebrews 13:16
Love is a safe space of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others… it never gives up. Love never stops loving.
1 Corinthians 13:7-8
Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think…
Romans 12:2
Let us look on one another with the excitement of love.
Hebrews 10:24
Live happily together in a spirit of harmony, and be as mindful of another’s worth as you are your own.
Romans 12:16
So then, from now on, we have a new perspective that refuses to evaluate people merely by their outward appearances. For that’s how we once viewed the Anointed One, but no longer do we see him with limited human insight.
2 Corinthians 5:16
…Freedom means that we become so completely free of self indulgence that we become servants of one another, expressing love in all we do.
Galatians 5:13
Aspire to lead a calm and peaceful life as you mind your own business…
1 Thessalonians 5:11
…Be skilled at gently encouraging those who feel themselves inadequate. Be faithful to stand your ground. Help the weak to stand again. Be quick to demonstrate patience with everyone.
1 Thessalonians 5:14
Above all, set yourself apart as a model of a life nobly lived. With dignity, demonstrate integrity in all that you teach.
Titus 2:7
And remind them to never tear down anyone with their words or quarrel, but instead be considerate, humble, and courteous to everyone.
Titus 3:2
If you consider yourself to be wise and one who understands the ways of God, advertise it with a beautiful, fruitful life guided by wisdom’s gentleness.
Jacob 4:13
…God is love…
1 John 4:16
…For to walk in love toward one another is the unifying commandment we’ve heard from the beginning.
2 John 1:6
Peace to you, my friend...
3 John 1:15
He sees everything with pure understanding. How beautiful his insights - without distortion. His eyes rest upon the fullness of the river of revelation, flowing so clean and pure. Looking at his gentle face I see such fullness of emotion. Like a lovely garden where fragrant spices grow… No one speaks words so anointed as this one - words that both pierce and heal, words like lilies dripping with myrrh… His innermost place is a work of art - so beautiful and bright.
Song of Songs 5:12-14
…May the kindness of God’s grace and peace overflow to you…
Rev 1:4
What I have found, as I highlight my way through this part of the Bible, is a message for me from Love with love. I keep tabs on the words that sound a little louder in my heart as I read them, and the theme is one that I think we could all benefit from. There is only love and peace, freedom and truth, and deeper understanding of self, deeper appreciation of the creation that is fulfilled by you.
It is a gift to read the words made for me to see. I think we all get a different angle, and it comes with silence and our own voice. Funny that these two words are everywhere for me right now - silence and voice, contradictory I thought at first. But how can we ever hear our own voice, our own thoughts, if we are always listening to what is outside of us? So much noise, so many ideas… and what if we all just took a deep breath and listened for the voice of love within us, in our own silence?
What if our top priority was to strengthen and encourage one another? What if love and kindness was the motivation behind all that we do? What if we never stop believing the best for others? What if we don’t miss an opportunity to do an act of kindness?
What if we were as mindful of another’s worth as we are our own? What if we refused to evaluate people at all? What if we expressed love in all we do? What if we minded our own business? What if we were gentle encouragers, demonstrating patience and integrity, consideration, humility, courtesy?
What if we were guided by wisdom’s gentleness? What if we were love to every person we encounter? What if we were peace?
All this, just to say… it’s worth a read.
Follow this little artist! She’s my cousin, and the love I have for her is important to the rhythm of my heartbeat.
Her mother’s description of her and this piece hit me deep, and I couldn’t say it any better myself…
“Her warm and cool are completely entwined and balanced - inseparable, but fluid. She unshakably trusts her inner strength while aware of her vulnerable need for divine protection. She is confident, humble, and content.”
I really like The Avett Brothers. Have you noticed?
