We are in the world, not of the world!

With the new year now into its second week (in the Gregorian calender, that is) I found myself, once again, thinking about a new start.  I believe it is a natural part of the human condition. Unless you do not keep track of dates, and are not part of the 'rat race', as it it sometimes known, you have no alternative but to 'join in', to a certain degree.  Many clients, as well as acquaintances, and friends, wish me a 'happy new year', some aware of my spiritual beliefs, and some not.  I respond in kind, as it is the 'human' thing to do, and we are told (and I am sure there are some that will disagree, but it seems apt) to 'render to Ceaser, what is Ceaser's'.  (I think the verse about 'if thy eye offends, pluck it out, is on a more personal level!)

However, despite the 'wishing' everyone salutations, I realised that being caught up with the 'new' is putting myself in the way of the world.  Although we are 'in the world', Paul tells us not to be 'of the world'.  Starting 'afresh' at new year should not be something that I aspire to.

It was all too easy to 'slip' into the Christmas spirit, listening to the tunes on the radio, and joining in with the festive atmosphere.  However, when I heard one shopper say, 'I have just bought these boots.  No one else will. Merry Christmas to me!'.  I wondered why she needed the excuse to buy herself the boots, and didn't think of how I was being caught up in the same net.  Although Messiah was not born around December (and I am sure I have covered this), we are constantly reminded to 'remember the reason for the season!'  Even if Messiah were born around December, and even if we were to celebrate the birth with such fervour, where is the honouring in buying presents for oneself?  I must admit that although I celebrated as a child, I now consider 25th December, and the surrounds to be a time when I have a few days off work, and go home to England to be with my family.  Why?  Because they all have time off work, and it has become a tradition.  I do not celebrate the birth of Messiah at this time, nor do my husband and I give presents (just as we do not consider Valentine's Day to be the day to show our love for each other!)  However, I am in the world and my family still exchange gifts.  My personal gifts are no different to those which I take when I visit in the summer.  However, as they are given on 25th December, which is the time that everyone congregates, there is a preconception that this is a Christmas present. 

With my mother being in her 80's, there is much preparation and much clearing away, and so the day becomes a giant chore!  There is little time for reflection on spiritual matters, and by the time it is all over, we are exhausted.  I am not saying everyone is the same, and I am sure there are many who go to church, and give thanks, but I am also sure there are many like me, who get carried away with the atmosphere, and worse still, complain about how tired we are after it is all over. 

I read my husband's blog on the Sunday after the 25th, which dealt with doing Elohim's will, and not your own.  I was very humbled.  I had not necessarily been doing things that were selfish but I had not been paying as much attention to the Spirit as I might.  I was determined to make amends.  However, after spending most days on my vacation in the kitchen, or doing housework, I relished the 'me' time in the evenings.  I played games on the computer, and I knitted, but I did not read the scriptures, nor did I consider that there might be time to reflect and write something.  After all, it would be new year soon.

Yesterday, I read the Proverbs 7.  The young man is pulled in by the whore and she makes it all sound so nice.  I don't think I have ever contemplated the depth of this Proverb.  I understood the meaning, and I understood that it is easy to either take the easy way out, or to go down the wrong path.  However, it suddenly struck me that I was the figure that was the young man.  I saw the lights, and I enjoyed the atmosphere of the Christmas spirit, and festivities.  I went along and followed the whore to her house, and enjoyed the good life.  I had fun!  How did it end.  Blessedly, I was stopped in my tracks, and understood the implications of NOT doing the will of Elohim.  I understood the implications of going my own way.  I did not fall into the pit.  I was saved as I looked over the top. 

I believe that one of the biggest pit falls is not to recognise our own downfalls. 

Grace and peace to all, and may the voice of the spirit be as clear to you as it was to me, yesterday.