Okay, let me apologize ahead of time by saying that this one might get a bit muddy…sorry! That’s just where I seem to be hanging out these days…
I didn’t create “me”…I had no control over where I was born, my skin color, my frame’s composition, my gender, etc…I don’t keep my lungs breathing or my heart beating…I am thoroughly not my own possession…I must be the possession of the Creator. When I contrast this with “my possessions” I come up with a feeling that I, as the owner, am more responsible for them than “they” are.
So, what is my responsibility in my transformation?
Merriam-Webster defines transformation as: “an act, process, or instance of transforming”
“Act”, “process” or “instance” gives me hope. My past experience of success / failure would seem to indicate that transformation will take a long time…sigh…so, to recognize progress, I must focus on something other than “total completion”
M-W goes on to further define transformation as: “A change of variables or coordinates in which a function of new variables or coordinates is substituted for each original variable or coordinate…”
M-W defines variables as “a quantity that may assume any one of a set of values”. Hmmm…”values”…now there is a relevant thought along the pathway of transformation. Values (defined by me) are decision-making filters.
Coordinates would indicate a direction of travel, as in the journey of life, or towards / away from a desired destination or possibly a desired outcome, such as “transformation”
Summary: Values and Coordinates must be “swapped out” so that we arrive at a different place…ah…I like the sound of that…but now the kicker: who is responsible for the “swapping out”…I appear to be woefully inadequate…and that doesn’t provide me with much by way of hope.
Romans 7:17-20 (The Message)
“But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.”
Posted under Transformation
This post was written by David E on June 8, 2009
The article is usefull for me. I’ll be coming back to your blog.
It’s a pity that people don’t realize the importance of this information. Thanks for posing it.