Give a sister some luv

I have a real life friend who recently started a blog. She must be very cutting edge in her writing because she has already received her first negative comment. Well, not exactly negative, but just not all that flattering. It took me many months and a very controversial post to ever get a negative comment. So, I am asking my readers to go check her out. I wanted to direct others to her anyway, so now is my good reason.

Her negative comment arose as a result of her husband's profession. He is in the ministry and apparently because he is in the ministry, my friend has less reason to look out at life and creatively write her vents, observations, etc. This is the hardest part of being a person of faith. Some people assume because I have faith that I must always be positive and donning rose-colored-glass. While I do try, and my friend tries, we struggle with everything in life the way everyone does. Because I am a Christian, some people think I shouldn't have fun, as though I should be sitting around quietly meditating all the time or constantly praying for world peace. Some people think I shouldn't partake in or enjoy sarcasm. I think sarcasm is hilarious - besides Leslie Nielson's literal humor ("This woman needs to be in a hospital." "A hospital, what is it?" "It's a large building with patients, but that's not important right now."), sarcasm is my favorite form of humor. My pastor uses sarcasm occasionally as a source of getting points across and as a way to engage the congregation or to simply lighten the mood. Sarcasm is funny. Sarcastically complaining about life is funny. To me.

There is no commandment that says, "Thou shalt not use sarcasm." or "Thou shalt not complain." or "Thou shalt not ask questions." No, we are encouraged to ask God questions and wrestle with that which we do not understand and that with which we struggle.

However, it is sometimes refreshing to be reminded that as a self-declared Christian, I am wearing a brighter "watch me" sign on my back than most. Many people are waiting for me to screw up and sin and fail so they can be the first to say, "ha, where is your God?" or "That is why Christians are hypocrites." To those people I will say, just wait around, and I promise I will give you reason to say all those things about me. After all, I am human and I will fail. Time and time again. My friend will, too. Being married to someone in the ministry certainly does not provide immunity from life's temptations and struggles. Too Bad. Huh, friend? It would be a lot easier if it did.

That is all for my rant for the day. Stay tuned tomorrow (afternoon or evening - appt at 9:45 with chemo to follow, so a long day) when I update you with Brian's results. Ugh. I hate this TEST AND RESULTS WEEK - test day, the wait, the results....

KEEP BELIEVING