I sat down to write Truth on the Tenth this evening and was pretty bristly. I typed and deleted a few times over because the tone of what I wrote nodded to my midwestern sarcasm roots and end-of-the-day cynicism more than anything beautiful or hope filled.
If I want the line of my Substack profile to remain viable, that I am on the internet to say true things that encourage the human heart, then it’s time to change my attitude. It is not a side-lining of true things, but instead a reframing with divine help to the truer ones. The things that are truest about God that then effect what is truest about me. It’s pretty incredible to know that despite my mood I can ask an all powerful being who knows me inside and out to remind me of what is true. And then, through some cosmic mystery, truth begins to change things. It begins to set free.
I got to visit some friends on UT’s campus this last week and at the end of a little walk and a little prayer around some (insane) athletic facilities they asked if there was anything encouraging I wanted to say to the soon-to-be graduating seniors. These men and women voluntarily found themselves on a prayer walk, so I assumed their interest in God was such that I could both encourage and challenge them a bit. (I tend to always encourage this way. Most of them were national champions in something… they could handle it.)
I told them a story about being in college myself, completely taken by a baseball player named Austin and hanging on every word he spoke. One night he asked me, what would you say if someone asked you, ‘why do you believe what you believe?’ Confidently, I started talking about the God I knew growing up. I explained how loved I felt, how present He was, and how He had changed my life. Austin then answered, Okay, what are some other systems of belief? I started to name some. Austin again: Let’s say I subscribe to one of those. Could I say all the same things you just said about why I believe what I believe? I confirmed with an annoyed yes. Okay smarty, why do YOU believe what you believe? I asked.
Because it’s true. Austin answered.
The seniors’ eyes got a little wider. This is interesting territory to enter into with recently college-educated students, despite their background or current faith.
I told them how these three words Austin spoke convicted me and catapulted me into a theological deep-dive. I needed to know for myself. Is all this I had been raised in and had since come to know for myself true? Or just something that made me feel loved, purposeful, and grounded in the right things?
Here’s what I found: it’s both. It is true and makes me feel things. It is factual and transforms my flawed human heart. It is accurate and wildly mysterious. So much of growing in faith has led me to an answer that goes beyond what I can explain, comprehend or neatly fold up. Often it is both. And the tension of that only leads me to believe in God more. After all, who wants to believe in, follow and devote their life to a God they can perfectly understand? I don’t need to know everything. Only the true things. And everyday allow truth to set me little more free.
I challenged them to ask themselves how they might answer that question Austin asked me. I don’t care as much what you believe, but the why behind belief (even if you claim to believe nothing) is pretty telling and worth investigating, I told them.
Tonight, I want to challenge you to do the same. Ask yourself this question. If you answered like Austin did I might follow up by saying, are you becoming progressively freer in your life? Part of what I believe claims that truth sets free. I wonder what good things could come from slow and honest reflection in your life?
Until June,
xoxo
Learning:
Having (newly) short and naturally curly hair in the humidity of Texas is not something I necessarily assessed or accurately feel equipped to deal with.
Painted nails are a grace in my life. When all else feels like it’s falling apart, what is about color on your fingers that makes it seem like it will all be okay?
I will forever use a hand-written calendar. I am a granny and embrace it gladly.
A good, early morning always (always) starts with a good, early night. This is hard and worth me getting it wrong a million times to try again tomorrow.
Reading:
Not gonna lie, y’all, I’ve read close to nothing this month because it was late April and May(hem) but here are a few great things I listened to:
A Mother Like You by JJ Heller (in case you need a good cry before Sunday)
Color Up My World by Ben Rector and Hailey Whitters (Rhodes says, can we play the green grass song? And Remi is delighted by the Bob Ross reference.
This interview I really loved on the book of Revelation.
Praying:
I found myself on a text thread with other women who actually share and actually pray for each other. It has been the greatest gift. Text messages can be redeemed.
For more of the Holy Spirit.
For the strength for each of us to finish this year well. It’s really hard to end well.
That God would make me generous in all aspects of my life.
Up to:
I’m actually ending this post and heading outside for some sidewalk chalk-drawn pickle ball on our street. Neighbors put kids to bed and then come outside and gather. It’s one of my favorite things about our neighborhood.
Trying to sit up straighter.
Doing extra laundry because May in Texas could just be called ‘sweat.’
Writing a zillion good words to teachers because they are the actual heroes of all the land.
P.S. If any of you live in humidity with curls, send help and products <3