When Two Worlds Collide

I like being comfortable. In fact, I would almost go as far as to say that I love being comfortable. This is a big deal for me, seeing as I don't use the word love for petty things like movies and books and other things. However, I feel as if I have grown to love being comfortable. 

     For months I have denied this even being a slight possibility. "I don't love this, I'm trying to get out there and live life on the edge." No. Just no. 

     There is not much worse than convincing myself that I'm somewhere that I'm are not. When I think that I am there, I simply stop pushing myself to get where I need to be. When I use this mindset, I fall short of what I am supposed to be doing. What good is it for the Kingdom if I am just going to sit in room filled my close friends and not those that have no one? Or even better yet: Why am I sitting in my room by myself when I could be in community with others? Isn't that kind of the point of a community; to go through life together and welcome other people in?

If you think about it, you wouldn't be in the community that you're in now if you wouldn't have joined it or been included. Why would we leave or avoid what we should be doing?

     For so long I have been content with just going through life and taking it as it is, but what is the purpose of wandering through life when I could be walking? Better yet… I could be walking with others just like me. So often I simply decide that it isn’t worth the effort to gather with others around me because it will wear me out when, in fact, it builds me up. I mean, most people don’t like walking outside in the dark but have very little problem with it when they are with others.

     Now, I know that I don’t like being in the dark alone, but I have grown to tolerate it. Isn’t that just as bad? I’m not for it, but I’m not doing anything to stop it. I have grown to be comfortable with it. I guess that that is one thing that comes with being a routine person. The question then becomes how I am going to change this. How am I going to stop being so comfortable with where I am? How am I, a scheduled and routine person, going to stretch my comfort zone and stop being comfortable all the time? 

     I’ve come up with but one answer: get rid of my comfort zone. Well, as much of it as I can. It sounds easy enough but it may just be one of the toughest things that I’ve done in quite a while. 

    I know that the picture that follows may be a little bit of a stretch, but it makes sense to me and it shows what I am trying to say. 

     If I want to stay in my little circle, I can do just that. I'm sure that I'll make some fun, try some new things, and maybe even bring some friends in to be comfortable with me, but that is not the point. That is not where I am going to reach out to others, build people up or even grow. My comfort zone is not where the magic happens. 

Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

When we take the time to circle around those around us we grow. We learn. We thrive. We encourage. Take the time to circle around the people that are circled around your circle.