The Great Miracle

In my speech class this week, we have been doing persuasive speeches.  I was this close [imagine me holding my fingers really close together] to doing my speech over why I should get an A, but I couldn't find my way out of the circular logic involved.

By far, though, the winner of most interesting speech was taken by a guy that did his speech in order to persuade us, his audience, into acknowledging the deeds of a truly influential figure.  This figure was a strong advocate for the rights of transgenders as the first transgender parent, an image of true redemption as his very purpose in life did a complete 180 degree turn around, and an advocate for the dangers of nuclear radiation.

Who was this truly amazing figure?  Godzilla.  The speech was AMAZING!

I can't remember all of his points so I'm not gonna spend all my time talking about that speech.  What really strangely caught my attention was a speech that talked about Maslow's hierarchy of needs.  I think the speech was actually about going Greek, but I never got past the brilliant point they had.

If you don't know anything about Maslow's hierarchy of needs, you can read all about it here:  Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.  Essentially, Maslow's point was that certain needs are more important than others and those closer to the bottom must be fulfilled before you can truly experience the higher levels.  For example, before you can truly experience friendship, you can't be starving to death.  It really kinda makes sense if you think about it.  There point was that according to this hierarchy, which is widely accepted by the psychological community, you must be accepted by others before you can truly accept yourself.  That there is big stuff.

Unfortunately, I have to agree with the point.  How can you possibly see any good in yourself when the world is bringing you down?  Sadly, there are people in the world that have never felt truly accepted for who they are.  It's a rough time trying to go through life like that.

Since I know most if not all of my readers, I know that you guys have someone in your life that accepts you for who you are and feeds your self-esteem and ego rather well.  So how on Earth can this affect you?  It's simple.  There are two sides to this issue:  the unaccepted and the unacceptors (yes, I'm claiming that as a word).  People can't feel unaccepted if those in their life are accepting them.  Now doesn't that make sense?

I read someone's Facebook status today, and I LOVED it!

"If embracing all lifestyles will lead me to hell, then I’ll see you all there. It’s going to be one incredibly tolerant and happy inferno."

I don't know if it is an original quote from her or if she got it from somewhere, but since I don't have her permission to put her name, I'm not going to.  If she happens to read this blog I would appreciate a shout-out to clear this up.  ;)

This says a lot about the world's perspective on traditional Christianity.  Whether you realize it or not, I already through out the idea of an exclusive heaven back in another post.  (I'm gonna be rude and make you go find it for yourself.)  The modern view of traditional fundamentalist Christianity is very exclusive and unaccepting.

Don't be one of them.  Being anything less than tolerant of other people is just wrong.

Now to those that feel unaccepted by the world:  however dark and cruel the world is, that is how wonderful and loving Jesus is.  I've said it before (in that post I told you to hunt for), and I'll say it again.  The word of God is not just in the Bible.  Sometimes, the word of God can come from the musical styling of a ten-year-old girl.

Maria Aragon "Born This Way"

I've listened to this song lots of times on the radio, and it never really struck me as anything particularly impressive.  Then, as I was "youtubing" (I'm NOT gonna claim that as a word) today, I came across this little girl singing it (and could actually understand all of the words) and it really hit something with me.  Whether you're a Gaga fan or not, you should listen to Maria sing this song.

While I was working at camp this summer, there was a week with a particularly enthusiastic pastor.  As part of their Bible studies on day, they were asked a question.  Later that week, their pastor spoke at worship and asked us the same question.  I don't remember much else about that week, but the almost frighteningly well rehearsed answer has stuck with me for a long time.

"What is the great miracle?"
"God knows everything about me, and he love me anyway."

It's true!  All those reasons why the world hates you and won't accept you don't really matter to God.  He loves you no matter what!  That is truly the greatest of all miracles.  As Lady Gaga said in "Born This Way":

"There's nothing wrong with loving who you are . . . 'cause he made you perfectly . . . I'm beautiful in my way, 'cause God makes no mistakes.  I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way.  Don't hide yourself in regret.  Just love yourself and you're set.  I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way."

Whether you're a "little monster" or not, that really is a beautiful sentiment.  However unaccepted the world may make you feel, God loves you, because he makes no mistakes.  Once you can accept that love, you can finally start to truly love yourself.

Anyone who was at camp the week that the pastor I talked about earlier spoke knows that there was more to the message than just the "great miracle".  There was another question with an equally well rehearsed answer that came immediately after and is one of the greatest things I have ever heard from any source in my entire life and it still gives me chills just thinking about a group of kids yelling it out.

"What is the great miracle?"
"God knows everything about me, and he loves me anyway."
"What is our response?"
"Thank you, God.  What can I do for you today?"

God knows everything about me, and he loves me anyway.

Thank you, God.  What can I do for you today?