Pierced Ears and Transformation

I remember clearly the day I was finally allowed to get my ears pierced. (many, many years ago!) I was SO excited! It was a rite of passage I had waited for against my will. My parents made me wait until I was "old enough to be responsible" to care for my newly pierced ears. So my birthday came and went and the day for us to travel to the nearest large metropolis to get this done arrived at last. I sat in the chair and the lady got out a GUN! At least it looked like that to me! She "loaded" the thing with the gold stud I had chosen and then casually asked me some questions about school. As I answered she took aim and shot the thing. I jumped. She loaded the gun again and tried the same ploy - asking me some lame question and then waited for me to start talking before pulling the trigger. But this time I was on to her. I stalled, not saying a word, but the pressure was mounting...she was waiting for me to start talking. I knew it was inevitable, so I finally braced myself and began to answer her question. She wasted no time in launching the second shot into the innocent ear lobe. I had mixed feelings leaving there. This was what I was so excited about? OUCH! Nobody said it would hurt like this. My fantasies of this experience did not prepare me for the reality.

My experience with life transformation has been similar. It has been much different than I thought it would be. I guess I've been influenced by popular notions that life shouldn't be hard, that I can get what I want quickly and without much effort, that I have a right to be happy, prosperous, etc. Gary Thomas in The Beautiful Fight writes, "character transformation, though dependent on grace and God's empowerment, requires a lot of hard work, vigilant oversight, rigorous thought, self-discipline, and a life marked by repentance. It also entails surrendering to a God who is more concerned with our character than with our comfort." pg 197

When I read those words I am struck by the truth. Transformation does require hard work and all the things he mentions. One of my least favorite in the list is repentance. I tend to think I'm right about most things and it takes God's intervention to show me my errors. I like to think I'm soft hearted and humble, but the truth is I'm selfish and want my own way. I'm annoyed when the answers to my prayers don't happen as quickly as I want them to. I'm quickly angered when I think I've been wronged. I'm terrible at self-discipline, and surrender? well that is just too much to ask! Isn't it?!? Actually, no it isn't too much to ask, given what Jesus was willing to go through for me. When it got hard Jesus didn't bail. He prayed - and God strengthened him.

I have learned that seeking transformation is SO worth it! Not because I think I should do it in order to get on God's good side (that doesn't work anyway) but because the alternative is even more painful than transformation. Gary Thomas puts it this way, "I've come to realize that when I refuse to face the pain of transformation, eventually I must endure the misery of my immaturity."

Much of this has been focused on my efforts in the transformational process, but real

transformation depends on the work of the Holy Spirit and God's grace. Yes, suffering is often part of the transformation process but so is healing, peace, and joy. The more I'm transformed the more those positive traits are in evidence - even in the midst of a storm. And no, I'm not there yet, but I'm not where I used to be. Transformation is a life-long thing. It doesn't happen overnight. God is merciful and patient, not condemning. He searches for a willing heart, someone willing to say "here I am - start with me." And often He needs to work IN me before (or maybe while) He works THROUGH me. (I think a lot of Christians are tempted to skip the inner work and jump to doing stuff FOR God; but I think God is infinitely more interested in the condition of my heart than what I think I can do for Him.)

Romans 12:2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think [renewing your mind]. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. NLT

So, some things in life are harder than I thought they would be or haven't gone the way I had planned. God is still good, Jesus is still my Savior and I'm still His child. He loves me and says He's going to see me all the way through. That's enough for me to get through today.

'Till next time...

and the greatest of these is love

Gina