One highlight of this past month has been our class with Eric where we have been doing an inductive bible study on the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount contains the famous beatitudes, one of which is “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” I feel like the word meek is one of those classic biblical words that many people struggle to define or understand in its entirety, and I agree. The basic understanding I came to through our class is a mindset of humility and recognition of the lack of power you personally hold, and instead submitting to an authority beyond yourself. We discussed how a mindset of meekness is important to have, paired with a spirit that hungers and thirsts for righteousness. We recognize the lack within us to be perfect and make things right, we recognize the need we have for a savior, and we adopt humility knowing we alone cannot fix the situation.
In simpler, more everyday life terms, this month has been a humbling one. It has caused me to face head on my sin, my weaknesses, my lacking, and my need for a perfect God that can restore and redeem me. You may be thinking, “dang Linsey, what are you talking about?” Well, at church all our sermons over the last month have been about temptation and confronting where we’ve become comfortable with our own sin. And if that wasn’t already causing me to look inward, this month also included peer reviews from all the fellows, a strengths assessment, our genogram papers, and a silent retreat, all of which have taught me A LOT about myself (good, bad, and UGLY). And I don’t say this to bring myself pity or because it's fun admitting all the ways that I fall short from my own and others expectations, but rather I share this because it has been really meaningful through this season of Lent to acknowledge my brokenness and cling to the hope of Jesus.
But I also don’t want you all to think that I was all sad and sappy through March reckoning with all these self-discoveries. Within all of this information there has also been some really sweet truths that have provided comfort and replaced lies I've believed about myself. The strengths assessment labeled me as a stimulator and provider which gave me a clearer understanding of the role I tend to take on within groups as someone that seeks to elevate the emotions of others, sense the feelings of others, and give a voice to others who have not been heard. Our peer reviews also gave me a lot of encouragement and understanding in how others see me, as well areas to grow in. It has been a time of sweet honesty in seeing the unique ways God has designed me. It has given me a chance to confess my sins and seek God’s forgiveness and grace. It has given me a desire to love others better and be a better reflection of God’s love and kindness. I hope that in attempting to grow in meekness God is allowing me to become more merciful, creating in me a pure heart that desires devotion to God and thirsts for righteousness and peace on this earth (and that’s all thanks to the beatitudes).
-Linsey