Input, Output

Scripture: “Do not envy wicked men, do not desire their company; for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble. (Proverbs 24:1-2)

Sometimes I have trouble finding just the right scripture to go with the concept of a blog in my head, so I did the best I could with the help of a friend to find the appropriate scripture. Somehow I think there is one that would match closer, but I didn’t give myself enough time to research it out.

That being said, I have come to the interesting realization that some people can be more impressionable than others, and it all depends on our past experiences and personality traits. Just recently, I’ve discovered just how fragile I can be.

Have you ever returned from a camping trip, and smell like campfire? Ever hang out with someone long enough to pick up on cute phrases they say, so YOU start saying them, too? Even soldiers go to war and often come back different men from when they left. Why is that?

The world can leave its mark on you. Whether you are conscious of it or not, we walk out into the world, but if we aren’t careful where we are treading, I have discovered how easy it is to let more of the world in than you ever intended.

What I learned about myself this week is how incredibly empathetic I can be in areas I never expected to be. I’ve always been an empathetic person. That is to say, I put myself “in others shoes”. I feel their pain, their struggles, their desire to be heard, and their fears, hopes and joy. It’s a God given gift, really. I’ve been able to make friends with people on a deeper level because I can identify with them on many levels.

One thing I have known about myself, though, is to be careful with how much secular music I listen to, particularly hard rock/heavy metal music. I know, sounds crazy. But I love the screaming guitars and the driving percussion of that kind of music. But I have to be most careful regarding the lyrics of the CDs I buy. I always look up the lyrics on the computer first, because I learned a long time ago that if they sing with bad language, bad language will come out of my own mouth instead of saying “rats! or “crud!” like I always do. This is what I mean by “the world leaves its mark on you.”

Just recently I picked up a book by a rock star who published his journal from 1987, when he was in his late 20s. It’s the story of his descent into a life of drug addiction and debauchery.

I picked up this book, not only because I am familiar with the band he is in, but also because as I flipped through it, it reminded me of the journals I used to keep as a teenager. Under regretful circumstances, I have only one of several journals in my possession, the rest I got rid of. I found it interesting to peek into the life of another journal-keeper.

The problem is, his life is so sad, so full of sin, so dark and muddled by drugs, that I drove home the other day feeling rather melancholy. I wasn’t sure why at the time, but I’m pretty sure it’s because I slipped into his shoes. The dark hopelessness in his life must have gotten to me, and I hadn’t even realized it!

At this point, I only have about 60 pages left to read. At least, in this book, it’s a story of his descent – but his eventual recovery from his life of drugs. So I’m interested in reading to the end.

But it really made me step back and realize I have to be so careful what I choose to listen to and read – because the world would be more than happy to swallow me whole!

So my blog today is about always being mindful of where you go in your head, what you choose to watch on TV, listen to, read. Even if you’re not as empathetic as I am, we all have weaknesses, and we must continually guard ourselves, ever vigilantly, lest we stumble away from God. Careful what you put in, because it all shows itself in your life somehow. Is that good or bad? It all depends on what you fill yourselves with.

A friend of mine shared this poem with me, when I told her what this blog would be about:

Watch your thoughts because they become your words
Watch your words because they become your actions
Watch your actions because they become your habits
Watch your habits because they become your character
Watch your character because it will become your destiny
Author: Joyce Meyer

Nicely written!

Prayer request: For guidance and a closer walk with God to keep away from things that could be harmful to our spiritual life.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for making it so evident to me how fragile I am without You. Through this experience, help me to draw closer to You. Help each of us to make decisions with You always on our minds and hearts, guiding our every footstep. Amen