Providence Baptist Church

by Laura Haggard
While a Student at Western Kentucky University, 1998

This is my philosophy on life. It isn't perfect, but it totally mine. I just thought I would share it with you all.

LIFE

What's it all about? Sometimes I know the answer. The final answer to the eternal question. Love. That's why we're here - God created us to live with him. And because God is love, we must love in order to be with Him. Perfect love is the absence of sin - selfless, pure, and giving. Love for your best friends, your parents, and your little brother. Love for classmates, coworkers, and others you come in contact with. Love for mankind as a whole - only possible with a God's eye view of the world - the BIG PICTURE.

But what about the other times when I just don't FEEL that love? When I haven't been talking to God like I should, and failing to listen? When I don't make the time or take the initiative to worship and read His Word? When I just feel the need to be alone, completely involved in my own thoughts? Is loving others STILL what I should be doing? I can't do it by myself. I am only human. It is impossible without God.

I get irritated at my roommates. I fall asleep in class. I get jealous when other girls spend time with "my" guy. I get nervous in new situation and say stupid tings. I get mad when people get in my way and ruin my plans. I want to do what I want to do. This is human, it is natural, and it is WRONG.

So now - the other question. If it is natural AND wrong, what can I do? Become a nun so my options are limited? No. Give itup for a lost cause and go on my merry way? No. Strive for perfection knowing perfectly well that I will not achieve it in this lifetime? Yes. Keep trying, everyday in everyway, picking myself up when I fail, starting over again. And again. Choosing to love and ban the evil thoughts that come my way every time they show up - and some days that could be every 2 minutes. No matter how hard it is, or how odd others think I am, no matter how my love is taken advantage of - I will LOVE.

It is not the best way to live. It is the ONLY way, according to God. If you don't live in God's love, forgiveness, mercy, and freedom, then you aren't fully alive. You are bound by sin- bound to be selfish, bound to have low esteem, bound to be less loved by others. Everyone loves to be loved. Go outside of your shell, every day find a way. Make loving #1 priority. And I'm talking about the love of God, agape and all that, and friendship love. (Romantic love is in a class of its own, and may or may not be part of everyday life. It should not be the focus of life, but the icing on the cake.)

With the fullness of Christ's love in my life, I am satisfied, complete, and with a set purpose. I trust my unknown future to His hands, and my present troubles as well. God never promised life would be easy, but He did promise us LIFE, full and abundant.

[ Home ] [ Up ] [ The Binch ] [ The Room ] [ My Philosophy on Life ] [ Fifteen Points ] [ Heaven's Grocery Store ] [ A Love Letter ] [ Dear Friend ] [ God Won't Ask ] [ Commissioning Service for Fran Owen ] [ The Empty Chair ] [ The Contact Lens ] [ The Cracked Pot ] [ Mary's Heart ] [ I Asked God ] [ Good Morning ] [ His Name Is John ] [ Without a Word ] [ Butterfly Kisses ] [ A Prayer for the Children ] [ Why I Believe in God ] [ Father, Son, and Football ] [ The Cost of Children ] [ Another Name for Angel ] [ 1000 Marbles ] [ The Miracle of a Brother's Song ]