Cornerstone Conclusions

Every time I go to Cornerstone, it feels like a reincarnation. Not that I know what one feels like, but everything looks completely different for a few weeks after Cornerstone is over. This time was even more inspiring than usual. If I don't change anything in my life from that, then I go straight back to what I was, soon enough. However, there have been times that I've let that energy take charge and actually change me longer-term. This year seems like it will be one of them. It's always my choice, and I'm going to actually go the next step. So many conclusions came to me at sometimes seemingly random moments.

Perceptions

I went to a seminar called "Do what with False Prophets?" that was about a radical approach (at least from a traditional view) of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with people of other faiths that involved none of the pointing out of difference between the Bible and what they believe, which is going to be pointless – especially to the ones that actually use the Christian Bible in part or in whole. The approach basically talked about setting yourself in their context and working your way to what you want to say through their own perspective. The part that struck me and instantly flashed several lights was that he said this approach is more of a dialogue than a monologue. Suddenly, instead of thinking about the seminar topic, my rational logical mind started thinking about art. I instantly had a very real and deeper appreciation for art in many forms. My old opinion of art is one solely of aesthetics. If it isn't pretty to look at, what's the point? I know that isn't true, but I didn't understand that art tries to present a view of something while making the viewer, rather than the artist, come to the conclusion being made. So I guess I understand art now.

Music

There was a time in my life where music was a vital experience that revived and motivated. At the time, it was easy – it was as easy as turning the radio on. Today, the music just isn't changing on the radio fast enough. Before, hearing a song that's words directly applied to my life at just the right time is the sort of thing that made the hair stand up on the back of my neck. Lately, I'm lucky if I just enjoy singing along. My life has slowed down because of that. This week I listened to a lot of new things, bought 6 or 7 CD's and I'm surprised at what that can do. I tuned in to TVULive.com for the first time in about 2 years today.

Motivation

Let's face it, compared to America it isn't hard to be a bit busier or more motivated to do work than other people. Lately, I've been satisfied that I've taken on a couple things here or there. That's nothing about sacrifice. The times in life where things go best seem to be when I'm too busy to seek entertainment. Giving up my rights and my wants in every way makes life better than when I get what I "want". Among a huge list of personal goals I want to set for myself, the first is to get rid of cable tv. I realized that it's not helping me relax once in a while, it's subtracting vigor from my life. I've only got a few days to act before I start to feel like I did before Cornerstone – this is the time for change. It is so freeing to give things up. It is so relieving to remove things that seem like they are created for relief. The harder life is, the easier it feels.

This Day Forward

There are a few people I saw this week that I really haven't seen much of that just amplified this in every way. And yeah, some of those are complete strangers that I may not have even talked to. Where are these people on a day-to-day when my life is demanding so much? Why have I hidden from them? I guess that's another goal in itself.