Relationships, jobs, mean bosses, marriage, obnoxious neighbors, fire ants, politics, teenagers, etc. do not create stress in your life. Stress is all in your mind. Now did that statement just make you “stress out?” Did you get all huffy and want to crawl through the page and punch me out? Or did you agree? Or did you think I was just a kook writing a blog about which I’m ignorant, and you couldn’t care less?
See what I mean? The statement, in and of itself, did not make you have an opinion which stressed you out, or not. Your mind, which you imprinted with your particular belief system, made a choice as to how you interpreted that statement. Remember that your belief system is as unique as your fingerprint. Your belief system by definition is what you believe about God, yourself, others, and life in general. You developed your belief system by what you have been taught; what you have observed; what you have personally studied; and your unique life experiences. No two belief systems are alike. Your belief system is what makes you… YOU.
Most of us believe that other people should see things the way we do, don’t we? After all, we know what’s right, and what’s not. But the fact of the matter is that life is not really what it appears to be to me. It is just the way I see it. Everyone else in the world… EVERYONE… sees the same thing I’m seeing from a different perspective through the lens of their particular belief system.
Now here is where the conflict lies. I talk to people with a preconceived notion that they are going to agree with my point of view. When they don’t agree, my fleshly nature wants to defend my position and, to the extreme, label the dissenter as my enemy. They are not my enemy. They just see life from a different perspective… through the lens of a different belief system.
We are all wired differently. I have a good friend who loves to drive. At 84 years of age, he drove from Arizona to Alaska. In the 3 prior years, he made 7 trips from Phoenix to Lake Wylie, SC. He loved driving. My tail bone becomes numb just thinking about it. Not my idea of a good time, but for Ron, it was the joy of his life.
Now is driving stressful? No, not for Ron, but it sure is to me. What makes the difference? How I think about long distance driving. For one it’s a blessing. For others it’s a curse.
What’s my point? Here it is. Everyone views life through their own distinct lenses… belief system if you will. I should be shocked when anyone agrees with me since we are seeing life so differently. Instead, I come with the premise that they are going see things “my way,” and I’m shocked. It’s all about expectations.
Here’s the take away. God made you unique. You see life as you see life. Let others see life as they see life. Differences should bring celebration, not division. We are one family in Christ, aren’t we? Do you agree with everyone in your family? That’s what I thought. But you still love them and would fight anyone who would come against them. Let people be who they are, but don’t let people influence who you are. They don’t get to choose for you. You are the only one choosing for you. Enjoy YOUR JOurneY and let others take a different route if they so choose. I’ve found that when I take the road less traveled, Jesus and I have a wonderful trip together as long as I leave the driving to Him. Then I can just enjoy the ride.
You think about that…
Blessings,
Kenny
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