What’s the Point?

Posted on by beautybeyondbones

Walking around New York, I often find myself just realizing that, if I didn’t believe, I wouldn’t be able to see God anywhere.

I mean, if I weren’t looking for Him, God seems nowhere.

Sure, I’ll walk past the occasional church that is empty, minus a few fanny-pack-wearing tourists snapping pictures on their iPads.

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But, real talk: there just isn’t a lot of God out there to be found in our culture.

There’s just a whole lot of other stuff to occupy our time and our minds: the Olympics, summer blockbusters, the NFL, the latest Kimye/Taylor drama, back to school shopping, the presidential election, you name it – our culture exists in a spiritual wasteland, if I’m being really honest.

And for as incredible as NYC is, truthfully, it exemplifies this hyper godless environment.

But sometimes, when I’m walking along, dodging Pokemon Go players and briefcase-touting-powerwalkers on the sidewalks…

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…I sometimes wonder, why do I need faith?

Pause.

I am not questioning my faith or the existence of God. But I wonder, if I weren’t a Jesus follower, why would I think faith mattered? 

What’s the argument for it? Why would I care? What is the case for faith?

Because I look at everything around me, and you know what, I wouldn’t think I was really missing anything if I didn’t believe.

Things are so instantaneous and so immediately gratifying, I would look at faith and think, How painfully archaic. Why not live for the now? I’m only young once, so why drag around the old “ball and chain?” Who wants to just feel guilty and constrained all the time anyway? It doesn’t matter…

So.

Does it?

Does faith matter?

And the answer to that can be summed up in three little words.

What’s. The. Point?

What’s the point? To life? To my friendships? To my career? To my body? To whatever…

What’s the point?

If you close your eyes and think about the life we’re bombarded with everyday, what do you see?

For me, I see this fast paced, movie-trailer-esk montage of images, narrated by none other than Morgan Freeman.

First there are the “high fashion” images of our society with Victoria’s Secret models and men with chiseled jawlines wearing suits that cost more than a downpayment on a car. Justin Bieber flashes by, peeing in a bucket and riding a segway, waving to his Canadian buddy, Drake.

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There’s partying, reality TV and all of its quality family values. Trump’s yelling, Hillary’s barking, and Blair Waldorf is leaning over to whisper the latest gossip to Serena. (#GossipGirl) 😉

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Then in my movie trailer depiction of life, there are shots of homeless people, starving children in third world countries, refugees in war torn nations. Images of kids being bullied at school or online. Of violence in our communities. Of maxed out prisons full of human beings with names and faces. Images that shatter your heart into a million tiny pieces.

Cut to my family. My friends. Teachers. The cashier at my grocery store. The kids I nanny for. The cross guard on 6th Avenue. All the people in my life that I come in contact with every day. People with stories and hurts and struggles.

Cut to me.

Open your eyes.

After watching that bombardment of all that life’s throwing at us, what’s the point?

Are we to think that this is it? 

Well, okay – thanks, Caralyn, for pointing out all the crap that’s out there. Sure there’s a lot of eFF-ed up stuff, but what does that have to do with faith?

And I think the answer is that, all of those things we’re bombarded with – all of those things in our movie trailer – without faith – without God – we would have to navigate all of that alone.

And I don’t know about you, but frankly, that scares the be-jezzes out of me.

We’re not in this alone. Everything that the world tries to throw at us, that makes us feel as though we don’t measure up — we don’t look a certain way, drive a certain car, own a certain brand, live a certain lifestyle — all those bullshit standards impressed upon us by our cultural movie trailer — there’s more to life than that.

There’s hope.

And that’s where faith comes in. That’s where God comes in.


Faith gives you hope, and hope gives you something bigger to live for.

I’m not just living for the here and now. I’m living with my eyes on eternity.

There’s more to life than making money, and getting more “stuff” or going on lavish vacations or having an enviable house or career. There’s something bigger than me that I’m living for.

I’m living for Him.


I’m trying to use my life to be His hands and feet for everyone I come in contact with.

Because the world can seem like a spiritual wasteland, void of goodness and gentleness and hope. So I want to use my life to be a teeny tiny glimmer of His love and His truth.

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Because the world is not godless. He is all around. But it is up to us to choose to look for Him. To choose to see God in the everyday– In the people around us. In the opportunities around us.

That‘s the hope. That’s why faith does matter. Otherwise, the weight of the world would be just too much to bear.

 

So what’s the point?

 

Hope.

Choose it. See it. Claim it. Live it.

 

“Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

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beautybeyondbones

BBB: Because we're all recovering from something. // For speaking/business inquiries: beautybeyondbones@yahoo.com

391 thoughts on “What’s the Point?”

  1. H. O P E ❤ I LOVE THIS POST!!!! The enemy likes to keep us busy so we wouldn't have time for God, some people have too many idols, it's all so consuming for some. I'd like to think that a balanced life is the essence of living a godly life. Psalm 46:10 says "Be still, and know that I am God! " So if we don't stop to hear and see God in all its forms we can easily miss it. If we don't 'quieten our spaces we don't hear the word of God. If we don't project God through good works our faith is dead!
    James 2:14. Lastly, we need to surround ourselves with people of faith to help us grow ". God bless you Caralyn ❤

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  4. Absolutely beautifully written. Not to mention the fact that you take time to reply to each comment. Thank you for encouraging your brothers and sisters to cling to hope in this “spiritual wasteland.” Absolutely beautiful.

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    1. Thank you so much Dev. I’m glad you enjoyed it! Haha yes! I feel like, if a person takes the time to read and write a reflection, I should express my gratitude! Lol so thank you!! Have a beautiful weekend xox

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  6. love reading your posts because it brings so much hope in my heart. indeed God is all around, and we are to be used by Him, to be His hands and feet whenever and wherever we can. Thanks for sharing such a hopeful message, and really allowing hope to spring forth within the hearts of those who’re downcast, and feel hopeless. ❤

    p.s i realised I've never gotten to know what your name is, until i read this post!!! hi caralyn!! 🙂

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  7. Hey, Caralyn-

    Great post. I hope that somebody takes the time to stop you on the street and share what a light you are. I know that you get that here, but sometimes that affirmation doesn’t transfer until it’s expressed in the specific context.

    This came to mind: a friend told me that one day she saw Princess Diana walking from her hotel to a limo in NYC. Diana stopped and simply waved her hand slowly along the street. My friend said that she felt the grace wash over her.

    We can do that. We can call God into the world and allow his love to wash over others in a way that they can feel palpably. The trick is to only let go of the angels that are guided by our love when they land on somebody that will employ them to love others. Otherwise we need to pull them back into our hearts. As they come to trust are judgment with greater and greater certainty, they gather around us more densely. This is what Jesus meant when he said “To those that have, more will be given. And to those that have not, even what they have will be taken from them.”

    I realize that for women this can be a little like walking off the end of the pier. Some men will misinterpret. But you don’t have to be visible to make it happen. You can be looking out a window, riding by in a car, or passing in a train.

    I hope that you don’t mind my writing a sermon. I know that you’ve experienced this. I just want others to join in the process. When the joining of our little bubbles persists, the world will be changed. People will realize that they have a choice between the pain of the world the live in and the joy that surrounds those blessed by grace (which is to be given the support of angels in loving others).

    Wishing joy, grace and love upon you in all things,

    Brian

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  8. So, been a while. Work has been taking up my time and I have not been able to post regularly like I want. My journal is filled with things that I want to post! Slowly getting them up there! But saw this on my reading list and I have to say, in the work I’m doing for child welfare, I often ask myself this question–why do I do this? There seems to be no point and I’m draining myself for no good reason since the parents don’t care about the kids. But then I remember what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:23-33. And it’s summed up in this statement: “So, whether you eat or drink, do all to the glory of God.” That is my number one call in life, and any person who claims Christ is in their lives, it is theirs too. God’s glory is to be shown through us. Our faith is an example of God’s glory because it shows what He has done for us! Even when we get drained, He doesn’t and He pushes us to keep going and live for Him so others may know the love and redeeming power of His son’s name. As Acts say: There is no other name under heaven by which men can be saved. So, when you look at society, look at it how God sees it and let your heart be broken for it!!

    God bless!!!
    Tom

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  9. Thankyou for answering the billion-and-one questions I come across every day of my busy life.
    You really make living with Jesus something special! 🙂

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  12. As always amaxibgand thought provoking insights. The point is to love Him and be the hands and feet and show the world there is hope and his name is Jesus Christ! May God continue to use you and your words as a vessel to share his message.

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  17. You are so wise beyond your years. I love you and love your blog. So impressed! And I have got to check out more of your vegan dishes, not ready to transition but many of my stomach issues are so similar to what you went through, not as severe, but drawn out over thirty years. Maintaining a healthy weight now, finally. You’re so right that hope is key to having faith. Even the tiniest glimmer of hope can light the way to a better day. And faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. Bless you, sweet angel.

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  19. “I’m living with my eyes on eternity”
    There’s the problem, right there. With all due respect, you (and the Jihadist) see yourselfs as passing travellers on this earth. You’re on your way to the “next life”. You do not see it, as we athiest see it. i.e. “This is it! This is the only shot I get.The only form I will ever be. After my death, It will be for me, as a “conscious” human, how it was for me in 1763. Nothing.

    This is the only life! There is no hereafter that we definitely know of. We should make the most of this life! Love each other, care for one another, leave it in a better condition. Don’t look forward to what may never be, cherish what is!
    I am not judging you. I love you. I care for you. You are my fellow human being and I wish you only the best. 🙂

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    1. I am not a Christian, nor an atheist, but I think atheists take the easy-way-out. It is far more challenging to understand that evolution is happening as consciousness develops in all the species on Earth, life, by life, by life. And therefore every life matters greatly in it’s continuation of wisdom learned. If life is just “for once”, it would be pointless, in evolutionary terms. I think Christians believe only in one life, by the way. Well, that’s only what I think. I found your comment most interesting. thank you for it. Namaste.

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      2. You misunderstood me. I meant that YOUR “specific” life is the once off. Your genes are “keen” on living forever because they “compete” to be passed on. And they do get passed on, producing other iterations of themselves. This clearly nullifys your, “life in evolutionary terms, would be pointless if it’s once off” statement because clearly, from a genetic perspective, “life does want to go on forever. A la the selfish gene. Namaste 🙏

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  21. Ours is, indeed, a godless age. And we need folks like you to keep reminding us that there is some larger purpose to life than just getting rich or buying a new car. Thanks!

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  23. Ah, Beauty! All is not as it seems. The partying, instant gratification, etc.; your description reminds me of being in hospital for one of my surgeries. One of the tubes going in (there were plenty coming out too!) was from a pump. All I had to do was press the little button at the end of my cord, and a LOVELY shot of morphine was rammed into my bloodstream.

    The only difference between NYC and my dear, little, mechanical friend was that it had a timer so I couldn’t overdose. NYC? Not so much. That’s the difference. But what do they have in common? They both exist to run away from the problem: pain. Chest tubes hurting too much? *squirt* Life got you down? *snort* or *party* or *porn* or *movie/brain-candy*

    No matter the solution, the problem is always pain. How can I be so sure? I know every time I see one of those roadside memorials for someone who died in a car wreck, a shooting, or something else. Teddy bears that will never be hugged, balloons that will never be chased, and words of love that will never be heard. Why are those things there? The pain and hopelessness of no faith, no understanding of the loving God who rescued you, me, and countless others from our pain. No joy behind the pain of separation, knowing their loved one is FREE from their pain. Maybe even knowing, suspecting that they are in eternal pain, because they didn’t have God in their life.

    Where did your ED come from? The pain of self-loathing. Who was your ultimate deliverance? God.

    We are both the hands and feet of God. We minister to each other to build and rebuild our strength. We minister to those we meet and can help.

    Thank you for your inspiration for this morning’s response. Thank you for your ministrations to me and the rest of our blogging community. God bless, Beauty/Caralyn!

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    1. Wow this is such a beautiful note Jeff. Thank you so much. And what a powerful analogy. You’re so right. I’m sorry that you had to endure that, but wow look at the insight and perspective you’ve gained from it! God is good like that:) thanks for reading. Hope you have a lovely weekend! Hugs and love xox

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    2. This is certainly an interesting perspective. I’m not sure that I agree the purpose of faith is to relieve pain. Sure, it does provide a relief – we see that there is more to this life as believers than those who are not believers, but to state that that faith is merely a way to relieve pain suggests, to me at least, that belief in something bigger is simply another form of self-medication. Faith is so much more than that! There was a great analogy from a professor of mine years ago who stated that we all have faith – its just a matter of where we place it. We have faith that the chair we are going to sit in will hold us, we have faith that we will be able to take air in to our lungs and be able live another moment, you had faith that the morphine you had for your surgeries would relieve your pain. To me, faith is that piece of our brains and hearts that God placed there to tell us that we are not all there is to this world; that trusting in something we cannot see (like the air) has benefit and will nourish us. We don’t need pain to seek out that bigger something – it just is part of who we are.

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      1. Miss Faith! I did not intend to say that faith is MERELY for relief of pain. My apologies if I miscommunicated my point! Relieving pain is something that it does, but certainly not the whole purpose.

        I took a quick look at biblegateway.com for some quick references. There are 366 references to faith, almost all in the New Testament. Faith in the Gospels in largely used in connection with healing; “And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague” for example. The real lesson is, of course, to have faith in God’s love and providence in all things.

        Mark 4:40 – “And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” Pain can be physical, intellectual, emotional… Here they were suffering the pain of fear.

        As Caralyn pointed out using Hebrews, faith is about trusting in that which you cannot identify with your senses. For example I had no faith in the morphine. I did, however, have a LOT of experience! 🙂 When you have faith that God is on your side, both now and forever, that’s a comfort.

        Faith is about protection and comfort: Matthew 23:37 – “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!”

        It isn’t about self-medicating yourself with faith to run from pain. That would be no better that the drugs, sex, parties, etc. that people use now. What I was hoping to describe was how, through faith, pain is dealt with by way of knowing that God, even though we can’t see Him or His angels, is right here with us, and taking care of things. Maybe not in ways we always understand, but He is.

        Thanks for bearing with me as I expanded my thoughts and hopefully achieved a bit more clarity!

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  24. We find what we look for. If you want to find paper clips, that’s what you look for on every sidewalk and gutter. If you want to find God, that’s who you look for, in every face and every place you go.

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  32. Great Post Caralyn.
    Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
    I have been thinking a lot about the things that our life can get caught up in, the busyness of life and the realization that we can put so much time into things like social media, Pokemon Go, sports, Fashion, etc. and they aren’t necessarily bad but when we are consumed by them, especially as a Christian, it leaves us empty.
    You are right that we need to choose to see God in our world everyday.

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  33. Whoops, Caralyn, I’ve been spelling your name wrong! *hides* So sorry about that!
    Great post, girl. Thanks for sharing. (I hate self-promoting, so I’m not trying to do that with this, but I kind of wrote a similar post on my blog last year, and this reminded me of it: https://scatteredjournalpages.com/2015/09/19/im-just-contemplating-the-world-among-other-things/ 😂)
    Thank you for your encouraging post about our faith — the one that gives us real hope, real peace, and real rescuing. ❤ (How many blogs do you read, by the way? I keep seeing your face all over the internet! :D)

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  34. Well Miss Caralyn you have brought another smile of joy to my face this morning! Wonderful words and great reflections. Boy your birthday really does make you reflect and ponder your life 🙂 I truly enjoy reading your thoughts and perspective on life, faith, struggles, joy and Hope! May the peace and hope of God be with you! Keep spreading the Word sister! You do it so very well.

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  37. Reflecting on a movie I watched once with Eddie Murphy titled, “Holy Man” in it he told a story of thousands of starfish washed ashore and a little girl rushing around the beach tossing them back into the ocean was told by an on-looker, “There were too many what you’re was doing doesn’t matter.” She looked at the starfish in her hand and said, “To this ONE it matters” tossing it into the ocean and picking up another saying, “To this ONE it matters.” Faith and hope to make a difference if we look at the creation as a whole is very discouraging, but if we focus on our circle of influence and circle of impact then to each one we touch or minister to it matters.

    I love your the line the Lord gave you, “I’m trying to use my life to be His hands and feet for everyone I come in contact with.” If we keep in mind, “I can’t help everybody” then we will help NO ONE, but if we keep in mind, “I will help those I can.” Then some will be helped who will in turn help those that they can. Faith builds upon faith. Love fosters love.

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    1. What a powerful image with the starfish. Thanks for sharing that. That’s so true-if we each help one person, think how many people will be reached! Thanks for stopping by! Sending huge hugs and love xox

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  40. This was such a nice post! Thank you for writing it. I think Faith is is like petrol in our spiritual cars. Without it, we’ve got no ooomph! Faith is funny stuff. You’ve got to have it first – before belief. If you act in faith, the path is illuminated FOR you. I am not a Christian, but I enjoy your writing. A fan, you could say,

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  43. Someone else may have seen this at the beginning as a plea for help, in the middle a serious question and then the magnificent end is you knowing you are saved. Which the trailer can go further and have you starring in a movie not narrated by Morgan Freeman and you rescuing starving and suffocating people. You are different and you know this I hope. I started this while thinking and I would have exchanged the time frame but you and I are somewhat kindred and I am different than you. I have been similar places and like both of us, different ones as well. Your beauty is not your only asset, nor is your faith, nor your brain or being a caring and wonderful person. You are all that and then some. That is the message. You keep repeating things like this and you will convert many, even if not full on believers but others that just believe in something and try or try to help. I may be one of the few that reads your full post and I normally am bad at commenting as i want to get to every person on my list and give all of them attention and I have been failing but I am slowing down and talking to people I look up to, like you and make time to comment as it is an important thing to do. But I do not want you to scroll my site as I am first a trainer, then a former model and actor/athlete and now someone trying and writing pretty well. I like story boarding like you do but I try to avoid as it takes time to load for people. But I am fine that you do it. I get to read and see through your eyes. By the way your bloopers could have had more craziness, LOL. The late 70s movies that did them like anything with Burt Reynolds had crazy and fun filled bloopers and I hope to see you one day doing amazing productions or movies.:)

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  45. Deep very deep x. I look at my life now and look at my life then and even though I have a very long way to go in my walk with the lord with a few things causing me pain and heartache I have hope and faith in God to care for me the way he does do, If I was “living” they way I was before I wouldn’t have any hope at all, as scriptures say that jesus didnt come for the healthy but for the sick, I know, if God didn’t pull me out of that situation and surround me with a new family, I would have followed through with the plan to take my own life. but now when I look at the world I see god but I see the suffering aswell I see the pain of what the world has become and I mourn for it but I know God is doing amazing things despite all this pain and suffering x. Anyway my lovely sister you know how much I love to waffle on haha so i will leave it there x

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      1. I’m so blessed to have you in my life Caralyn, a lot of your posts have lifted me so many time x. your words are just so beautiful, I couldn’t think of a life without your posts, I believe God has placed you in my life for that reason as any of my church family to be a support ❤ love you sis xx

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      4. Wow, thank you Benjamin. This really touches my heart. Thank you. I can’t tell you how much it means to me to know that my posts mean something to you. Sending massive hugs

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      7. Thank you for the email you sent me it totally made my morning, I hope you got my email back ❤

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      11. No to be honest, dealing with a lot of feelings right now and struggling with them, nice human feelings but even so I shouldn’t be in the place to be thinking about them

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      16. Thanks Benjamin. I just read your post and wow I am so touched for the shoutout. Thank you. And I am so glad that the walk helped. God is good. Sometimes a little change of scenery and good music is all it takes to be reminded of His majesty and His goodness. Sending lots of love back at’cha!

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      17. God put you in my life for a reason my dear Sister I know that as the most certain, possibly because we are so weird haha x. I had a dream the other night that we actually met face to face on your trip to Europe you came to London so we discussed me coming to meet you and we met and had such a deep descussion and you even came to my church and met my church family ❤ x. I fully believe one day its going to happen 🙂 x

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  46. Reading this I thought of two books. The first, “The Book of Ecclesiastics”. If you haven’t already, it’s a must read. Solomon hashes over the triviality of what most people believe is so important. The second book “The Hunger Games” is what I pictured as you described all the nonsense that is taking center stage in this country like celebrities and cosmetics while some very real things are happening right under our noses. It is wonderful God has blessed you with a spirit of discernment in such times we are living in

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  47. Beautiful post. It’s so true sometimes you just look around you and get sucked in the the culture of fancy parties and money and stuff upon stuff. But honestly, where does that get you? Your stuff is not going to help you in the end. It’s the good that you did, the kindness you gave, the God-conscious life you lived. For many years I didn’t have a faith at all and I think back and wonder how the heck did I get through life?? It’s not fun living without hope. May God protect us all and keep our hearts filled with Him especially in the times when it’s hard to see Him through all of life’s rubble!

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  48. Great post 🙂 God is around us everyday, but he is only around us spiritually as opposed to physically. Regardless of how people live their lives, their always comes a moment when they are going through a painful time of their life and in the end, they feel that God can be comforting when things seem on edge. How do I know this? Friends of mine have told me this. This is not to say that have embraced God fully because even for the best of people, it always remains a work in progress and as long as that is happening, that particular person is not only showing maturity, but also fully understands that the only way to receive true healing is through Christ. I hope I am making sense, I just find this post to be very fascinating, but then again all of your posts are 🙂 Anyway, keep up the great work as always 🙂

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  49. You are so right that God is not found in so much of the man made mush that many tend to prioritize themselves in. NYC or any other place big or small is leveled with things that focus away from God, YET through those things, God throws in things for us to, if we will, notice. Little, more subtle things against the bigger blast are how He tends to deliver and when it all comes out in the wash, those little things end up much bigger than what we “thought was big”. Have you ever seen that movie “Miracles From Heaven”? Its amazing and I can’t believe you wrote this beautiful entry on the same day I actually watched it. If you HAVEN’T, do so. When it comes to NYC, I guess that’s what I try to find (and photograph); those things that were more created by God Given Blessings of Talent, instead of mass media and business. You are a wonderful example of the blessings and grace that God has cast upon this world. You could have let yourself stay caught up in all the yadda around you that was effecting you, but God came through and here you are. x0x0x0x0

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    1. Thanks for this Migueltio! Wow thank you for such kind words. I seriously am so touched by your comment. Amen to that-God DID come through-like He always does. And yes! That’s the one about Jennifer garner right? About the little girl and the tree? That movie IS my story. I just watched it with my parents because that little girl’s GI issue were the same as mine. Let me tell you, there were WATER WORKS watching that movie. So glad you liked the movie too! Sending big hugs! Have a lovely weekend! Hugs and love xox

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      1. Wow!! Well 2 miracles have certainly come out of that film, the girl and YOU!! A wonderful weekend to you too!! Try to keep cool in this drought and humidity!! Love and hugs! xox

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      1. On a serious note, “god” is all around but it isn’t some invisible, intangible essence of the “greater good” that you are referring to.

        “God” is within each person as choice. Choice is what takes us higher or lower as a whole. It is what has steered humanity to this exact moment in fact.

        “God” is simple binary code. (1-0). We could say that human existence has a root in binary conscience.

        +1 if you empathize
        -1 if you do not empathize

        *Views vary. Batteries not included.

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      2. Thank you for this perspective Robert. I agree: God definitely lives within each person in their heart – and what a powerful thought that is. Haha-shoot-looks like I’ll have to run to CVS for some batteries! 😂 Hope you have a beautiful weekend xox

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      3. No. I didn’t say, “god lives in the heart of each person.” I said choice does.

        Have a good weekend.

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