I Am A Sword

In Matthew 10:34, Jesus says, "Do not think I came to bring peace to the earth; I came to bring, not peace, but a sword."

Jesus was a peaceful person and taught with the most patience, understand and empathy ever. He was perfect, literally and figuratively. So this sounds conflicting, right?

Just because he WAS peaceful doesn't mean his message would result in feelings of peace with people.

We know from further teachings Jesus was referred to as "the way, the truth, the life."

Focus on "the truth." Does that always bring "peace" to those who first hear it? Hardly.

That's why there's so much conflict with religion. People don't want to hear the truth, they take what's convenient, water down the "harsh" parts, or straight up ignore it all together. Then they say, "FOLLOW YOUR HEART! GOD UNDERSTANDS, FORGIVES AND LOVES YOU ANYWAY!"

Stop.

A short answer because I'm not going to rant and unpack all that: God tells us our hearts are "treacherous" we can't follow them, he DOES understand us better than ourselves, and he only forgives when you're genuine and stop doing the crap you know you shouldn't - the stuff he tells you not to. He DOES love us, because he created us, he never makes mistakes but he doesn't love the things we as imperfect people do.

Off my high pony....

Why am I calling myself a "sword" today?

It's never to be above people or turn up a nose, that's never my intention. I actually feel really bad when people feel like that's who I am. I've taken a lot of time in the past trying to figure out how to NOT come off that way. But then I realize shining a light makes people REALLY angry when they want to stay in the dark.

I get it, there are a lot of days I want to be in the dark too, but God or life or whatever you want to call it keeps nudging me back out. No matter how hard I try to avoid it.

But today specifically, I just feel like a sword; sharp and freshly forged:

• Cut through the distractions in one swoop.

• Tell it like it should be and because nobody else will.

• Don't hesitate and don't be attached to any of the outcomes.

I have a lot of thoughts, feelings and things to say to people. And I'm not just talking about those on social media.

But I've also said and done more than enough. So if they aren't stepping up to do the same for me, the silence still has to be an answer enough for me.

And that's on them.

It's not that I have to "sacrifice" anything if it's not mine to begin with, right?

And if you think I sound full of it, overly confident, whatever; well, good for you. Being a "sword" just as trying to follow "the truth" means never being comfortable.

Because if you are, then you're probably compromising your truth somewhere; however, you should feel CALM enough in making decisions that help you STAND in it.

And for that, I'm no longer doing things at my own expense.

But I still have feelings, I'm still human.

Maybe that's where they're misunderstood.

And that's OK, I still have this path to cut.

And I will do it as imperfectly best as I can, following his example: with love, empathy and understanding of others while staying firmly fixed on the things that contribute to what's actually meant for me.