Thoughts right now

It has been a while since I last posted and though I doubt that many read this or get anything from it I apologize that I've ignored this. I've been thinking a lot lately. Now that is not all that peculiar but, I have been thinking about potentially new angles on old thoughts.

As the Christmas season has passed and the new year is underway people are thinking about (in my opinion) 3 things of the past year. Those being: Things given, things received, and 'reinventing' self. For myself then, I've been thinking of these things and trying to apply them in the different areas of my life.

What Did I Give This Last Year? - To be fully honest with you I don't know.

What Did I Receive This Last Year? - To be fully honest with you I don't know.

What Did I Do To 'Reinvent' Myself This Last Year? - To be fully honest with you I don't know.

So you may be asking yourself, "Why did he write this longwinded (exaggeration) introduction about how he's been thinking a lot and then tell me that he has no idea and no answers for these questions?"

Well I tell you this because I don't know. I don't know and I'm ok with that. It's not because I don't care, but rather I have come to accept that although I don't know in which ways I have gived, in which ways I have received, and which ways I've been 'reinvented', I still have done these things and that is the important thing.

I think though that we need to look at this 'reinvention' thing more critically. I think sometimes that the general public thinks that 'reinventing' self is more about doing things that not only changes appearance but also changes other people's perception of the indivdual. The problem I really have with the public's concept of 'reinventing' self is two folded. 1) It's shallow. 2) It has little to do with God.
Ok so the comment on being shallow is kind of obvious. It's all about forcing people to think certain things about you and draw certain assumptions about you because of your appearance, which seems contrary to this whole "Don't put me in a box, with your judgemental labels because I'm a unique rebel" garbage that gets shoveled down our throats. So yeah, it's kind of obvious that I'm frustrated with that.
"Reinventing" self is an individual process most of the time, and as a people group we don't see it as something that involves God. I know that I act like that. Sometimes I think that my own efforts will get me to a new, better spot in life. But, the truth will ever persist to be that God is the one who makes both you and I better. He makes us new every morning and showers us with grace and mercy each day. I am pleased to say that I don't know what 'I' have done to make myself better but, I am confident that God in his blessings and mercy on me has made me a better, more complete follower of Christ over the last year. I know that I am by no means perfect and that I still have challenges to face but, I am looking forward to a new year of deeper discovery of God's word and his place in my life and my place in his life.