A while back I had to pick my brother up at work and take him to our place to pick up his car. Or something like that. I can't quite remember the specifics.
But what I do remember is when he got in my car he said something along the lines of 'Your car smells like a girl, or smells nice...'
Me being the sharp and quick one that I am replied with 'Really?" I definitely wasn't on my game at that moment.
However it got my mind thinking. I get in and out of my car often, usually multiple times a day. But I don't smell what my brother had smelled in my car that day, anymore.
My dad got me an car-air-freshener for Christmas in my stocking last year.
When I put it in for the first while it was all I could smell. It was a nice smell, mind you, but slightly overpowering and obvious.
Now, I don't notice it at all.
Yet since that day with my brother so many people mention the smell of cherry in my car. Which is the scent of the air-freshener. But I however don't smell it.
What I realized by all of this is the power of desensitization in all of our lives.
We are all faced every day with 'things' that can overwhelm our senses.
-TV-Music-People with their choice of topics in conversation, and choice of descriptive words.-Magazines
And the list goes on and on...
There was a time in my life when I was completely determined to put a guard over my heart by way of my ears and eyes. I was pretty good at it too. Self controlled and discipline at what I watched and listened to, as well as what I allowed myself to think about in regards to people.
I wanted to keep my heart clean and free from fear and images that would rob from me my innocence and ability to trust people.
I wanted to keep my mind free of vulgar images no human should have to bear witness to. Especially that of knowledge that was not be known until appropriate times in my life.
For a short time I held fast to this.
Eventually I found myself making small compromises about what I allowed myself to watch for the sake of 'entertainment' or what I listened to, and even what I would say. Slowly I let my guard down and the things that once hurt my heart and made me feel unclean, no longer felt as big of a deal.
And looking at where I am now, it scares me.
When did I lose my ability to be self controlled and alert. Recognizing that there is a line.... and so many time we justify crossing it because we like to be entertained, or we want to live our lives like everyone else. We don't want to seem different, or to stir up problems in our friendships by sticking to our convictions and choices no matter the cost. Not that we walk around acting better then anyone or that we ever pass judgment on others, no, not at all. But that we, who are in control of only ourselves, make a point to live our lives in love, and self control. Guarding what has been entrusted (our hearts and minds) to us by the one who created us.
The apostle Paul says this in 1 Corinthians 6:12 ~ "Everything is permissible for me"- But not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"- but I will not be mastered by anything.
1 Peter 1:5-8 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is my hope. That I will begin again to recognize the gift that our innocence is. And to remember that the grace of God allows us the freedom, but he also gives us wisdom to make good choices. That through His strength I can live a life that will not be ineffective and unproductive by the choices I make.
But what I do remember is when he got in my car he said something along the lines of 'Your car smells like a girl, or smells nice...'
Me being the sharp and quick one that I am replied with 'Really?" I definitely wasn't on my game at that moment.
However it got my mind thinking. I get in and out of my car often, usually multiple times a day. But I don't smell what my brother had smelled in my car that day, anymore.
My dad got me an car-air-freshener for Christmas in my stocking last year.
When I put it in for the first while it was all I could smell. It was a nice smell, mind you, but slightly overpowering and obvious.
Now, I don't notice it at all.
Yet since that day with my brother so many people mention the smell of cherry in my car. Which is the scent of the air-freshener. But I however don't smell it.
What I realized by all of this is the power of desensitization in all of our lives.
We are all faced every day with 'things' that can overwhelm our senses.
-TV-Music-People with their choice of topics in conversation, and choice of descriptive words.-Magazines
And the list goes on and on...
There was a time in my life when I was completely determined to put a guard over my heart by way of my ears and eyes. I was pretty good at it too. Self controlled and discipline at what I watched and listened to, as well as what I allowed myself to think about in regards to people.
I wanted to keep my heart clean and free from fear and images that would rob from me my innocence and ability to trust people.
I wanted to keep my mind free of vulgar images no human should have to bear witness to. Especially that of knowledge that was not be known until appropriate times in my life.
For a short time I held fast to this.
Eventually I found myself making small compromises about what I allowed myself to watch for the sake of 'entertainment' or what I listened to, and even what I would say. Slowly I let my guard down and the things that once hurt my heart and made me feel unclean, no longer felt as big of a deal.
And looking at where I am now, it scares me.
When did I lose my ability to be self controlled and alert. Recognizing that there is a line.... and so many time we justify crossing it because we like to be entertained, or we want to live our lives like everyone else. We don't want to seem different, or to stir up problems in our friendships by sticking to our convictions and choices no matter the cost. Not that we walk around acting better then anyone or that we ever pass judgment on others, no, not at all. But that we, who are in control of only ourselves, make a point to live our lives in love, and self control. Guarding what has been entrusted (our hearts and minds) to us by the one who created us.
The apostle Paul says this in 1 Corinthians 6:12 ~ "Everything is permissible for me"- But not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"- but I will not be mastered by anything.
1 Peter 1:5-8 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is my hope. That I will begin again to recognize the gift that our innocence is. And to remember that the grace of God allows us the freedom, but he also gives us wisdom to make good choices. That through His strength I can live a life that will not be ineffective and unproductive by the choices I make.
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| The swing my cousin and I built. This place has served as a place I go and reminisce about my childhood. As well as a place where I often go to pray and spend time in the quiet creation admiring God's beauty. A place where I am reminded of the blessing my family and friends are. |
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