Ordinary People

I have been reading a book given to me called "The Rabbi's Heartbeat." It's by Brennan Manning and is probably the deepest book I've read in a long time. He writes with such a depth and understanding that I often have to re-read several times in order grasp something he is trying to tell me...

In one of the chapters, Manning talks about being ordinary. For some that know me, this is something I struggle with: is there really anything important about me? There isn't anything too special...I'm average. This chapter - no lie - changed my life.
"Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. God's love for you and his choice of you constitute your worth. Accept that, and let it become the most important thing in your life."
Just by being loved by Christ makes me worth something. I am his beloved.

It's amazing to me, after realizing this, how often I forget. Manning also says, "When I draw life and meaning from any other source than my belovedness, I am spiritually dead."
Dead. How often do I do this? How many times do I forget where my true worth lies and I begin trying to "fit the mold"? How often do I try to be the perfect student, the anchor of the team, the good daughter, the best listener, or the prettiest I can be? After reading this chapter, I've realized how impossible I make my life. It is utterly impossible to always be all of those things...and why would I ever want to be? No wonder I find myself struggling. I sometimes wonder where my passion went or where my excitement for each day went and when I wake up trying to fulfill all of these things to find worth...it's no wonder I'm exhausted.

This truth that I am valued and loved by Christ is something that is so obvious but I have never really thought about before. I am Christ's beloved. He WANTS to love me...simple me. I will never fully understand this but this idea that He chooses me is something that I needed to hear. No longer will I wake up trying to be something to gain value. Nope. I am now going to simply rest in the fact that He loves me.

Care to join?