No Subject (LJ)

I went to Target the other day to get some Ibuprofin and to see if they had the pink Bruce I have been scouting about for and found myself walking past the current "holiday" area. I've noticed for the last couple of piddly holidays that the gift/candy/snack/toy areas have gotten bigger. For V-day it was rows of Transformer and Care Bear Cards, oogy chalk candy hearts and enough chocolate to sate the hunger of a Football stadium of women with PMS.

This time it was set up for Easter. In fact, the entire store was decked with chicks and flowers and so forth. The Easter area was crammed with bags of candy, stuffed toys, baskets shaped like balls, or trains or fluffy bunny heads. Not to mention cards with sickly sweet poems, baby outfits and what ever else you could stamp a bunny or chick on.

I normally don't find myself getting philosophical in the middle of Target but as I eyed a mom dumping several bags of candy into her cart, all I could think was "Christ died for this??" Or more to the point, "This is what Christ's sacrifice has become?"

I honestly wonder at the people who are offended by others beliefs. In so much as they will pick a fight or be as inflammatory as possible in addressing their objections. Why? What's the point? I personally believe that Christ died for me. A belief that gives me hope, inspires me to help others, to live with joy and when things REALLY REALY suck, to look forward to a life beyond this one where pain is a distant memory and tears will be wiped away my God himself.

I hardly feel it is naive or selfish to want an eternity that DOESN'T hinge on endless rule following. So many people who have not read the Bible, but choose to judge people who claim to be Christians miss, is that someone who is honestly living their faith will let you in on a little secret called... GRACE.

As the Apostle Paul said. (loosely worded by me) "I am capable of doing anything, but not everything is good for me." He also said "Should I go and sin that I can exercise Grace? God forbid."

In other words: Christians who follow in the steps of Christ will acknowledge that they aren't, and cannot be perfect. But they can strive to serve Christ without going insane with endless rules.

Christ said: "These are the greatest commandments: That you love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul and that you LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR as yourself."

How hard is that??