Let's imagine a timeline of sorts, in which black represents the time I spend dedicated to my societal obligations (school work, a social life with family and friends, etc.); all the white areas will represent the time where I have been strictly devoted to God (some Sundays at church, a mission trip perhaps, reading the bible, prayer, etc.). My timeline would look very sectionalized, with definitive black lines and soft, fuzzy white ones. For the most part (pre- New Orleans), my barcode looked like a black box, my zebra, an italian stallion and my piano, very, very dirty. How can I create areas of gray in this dualistic timeline (to make a spectrum)? How can I include God in my societal obligations?
1) Through my interaction with others on a daily basis, trying to love the people that irritate me. (You know the ones, that you can't stand listening to--whose voice burns little holes of annoyance into your skull.) Loving is a rather large leap for my little legs, maybe we can start with non-judgmental respect and appreciation.
2) Taking time throughout my day, specifically for God. Which brings me to my next point...
A completely gray timeline is undesirable. I should have some time dedicated solely to God--so perhaps a gray and white visualization is more ideal. In retrospect, I realize that the times I thought to be black, were actually some form of gray. God was always with me, whether I realized it or not. Perhaps this is where the dualism and linearity of such an analogy fail its purpose. The visualization is helpful though for a young follower and a novice theologizer. How else can we create gray in our lives?
