Anyone who has lived for more than a few years knows what an important thing a reputation is. There are so many bits of wisdom we use to make this blatant. Sayings like: "Your reputation precedes you" or "Make a good first impression" or "Your first impression is a lasting impression". We say these things in warning. It is the hope this wisdom is heeded to, so when our reputations are presented to us they show us the kind of person we think we are.
God has an incredible reputation! The bible says in 1 John 4:8, "God is love." Love is described in 1 Corinthians 13, "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, boastful or proud. Love is not rude, it is not selfish, it doesn't keep record of wrong doings. It doesn't take pleasure when others grovel, it takes ecstasy in the flowering of truth. Love puts up with anything. Love never gives up. It always looks for the best and never looks back, but keeps going until the end." This is the type of character we should aspire too.
The past week has been an emotional roller coaster. My extended family is in town. These are the people who have supported me through much of my life. While I'm coming into a change of view points, I still respect them for their strong spiritual convictions and am a touch jealous about their certainty. I have tried very hard to not bring up my church attendance knowing most of my family wouldn't be pleased. Some of them have been understanding and others reacted as I expected. The result is exhaustion. I have 2 more days...
