The question our pastor asked us which is a good question for everyone to answer is… “what truths are you willing to die for?” What beliefs do you settle for meaning you’ll believe only when it is convenient? What beliefs are you convinced about because they are learned beliefs? What beliefs are you committed to doing because they have become part of your DNA even when life gets tough? The best indicator of one’s character and belief system is to determine what you’d do when life throws you lemons? When life is easy, it is easy to believe, but what about when it gets tough?
When it gets tough, do you get out or stay in the stands? Is there a plight you’re willing to fight for? Something which feeds your soul. Are you willing to change policy, go to a third world country to take action, be present for the broken, keep your vows, or never take no for an answer?
Are you built to make true change? Are you built to understand all emotion to its fullest – fear, doubt, anger, sadness, and joy? Can you look at life’s pains in the face and not turn your back or walk away?
All of these questions are important questions. As someone who cares about change, it’s important to go to the war lines. However, being human, many times the war has been brought to me and unfortunately I did not fight the fight. I allowed my beliefs to be convenient beliefs meaning they were only real when the outcome was guaranteed to be good. An example of convenient beliefs happened in elementary school. My heart said I didn’t believe in being prejudice or judging. Then came along a young man who had several medical issues. He was constantly taunted. I don’t remember ever saying mean words, but do remember laughing, staying far away from him on the playground, and not doing anything. At the time my little mind said he is different. Thankfully God brought Jessica into his life who stuck by him. A young activist at heart. It is a moment of shame for me, but also a great lesson.
The lesson being life doesn’t happen between four walls of a cardboard box. Life has many dark and light corners. A smart person once said you’d never know what love is until you know pain. There is a lot of pain from rape, molestation, abandonment, neglect, abuse, prejudice, etc. The important part is knowing what you’d die for. For me, I’d die for freedom, children’s rights, my family, my faith, and my voice. As many advocates say – your voice and your life story is your most important asset. It is what touches the heart of a stranger.
The issue is how can I best use my voice to make a real difference? With a 4 year old it is not so easy to get on a plane and go somewhere like Tibet or Zimbabwe, but what about letting people at work know about my faith, what about concentrating on the good instead of bad words in my marriage, what about teaching our children to have a servant’s heart, or what about not judging others so quickly?
For me, it is still a work in progress to know my voice and to use it. It is not speaking when life is grand , but knowing and believing in a purpose. It is about knowing what makes my heart beat, what battles I can fight, and what truths I am willing to die for. Honestly, the only reason my books have gotten as far as they have gotten is because of believing in their message, not staying in the stands, and allowing the childrens’ voices to be heard.
So it is your turn to answer this question…What is your voice, what are your beliefs, and what are you willing to die for?
