What Grammar Can Teach Us about God

This weekend I spent time teaching an SAT prep class. One of the topics we cover is transitional words and phrases. Transitional words make the change from one idea to another. These words include words and phrases like the following

• In addition to
  
• Consequently
• Furthermore
• On the contrary
• Although
• For example
• And many, many more

However (that’ a transitional word too), this blog is not about grammar- it’s about God. Many times in life we go through change, but it seems like that assistance in transition is misse oing. These transitions can be natural or they can be forced. They can be the result of our choices or just part of the progression of life Yet whatever the reason we go through transitions, often times they are not easy. We are missing that segue between changes. If we were to write out our problems using sentences like the ones below it might look like this.

- I finished college and, consequently, I must now find a job.

- Even though my boyfriend broke up with me awhile ago, I am still having a hard time getting over it.

- To illustrate my frustration with things, I had to move on to another location.

And while these situations contain “transitions,” something is missing. I began to think about this. I life is full of transitional words and phrases. I find this to be especially true in my 20s- nothing seems to be consistent. I have struggled in so many ways to adjust to life that I lead now. For the past 5 years, I have experienced many “furthermores, consequentlys, howevers, and hences.” However, let me offer you a better grammatical fix for your life’s problems.

Instead of focusing on the transition, refocus on the conjunction. Let me explain what I mean. A conjunction is a word that connects two words, sentences, phrases or clauses. While transitions describe changes, conjunctions connect them. Conjunctions include words like “but, and, or, yet.” God is that conjunction we need in our life- He is what holds it all together. Imagine if your problems looked more like this:

- I finished college, yet I am confident that God is going to help me find a job.

- My boyfriend broke up with me, but God is holding my heart.

- I was extremely frustrated with things, but God opened the door for me in another way.

I have often heard the phrase “But God.” I must admit that if inserted into any sentence of problem in life it can change things. I am hurting, but God… I don’t know what to do, but God… I feel lonely, but God…

So next time you are going through a transition, focus on a conjunction, not the transition. Let Christ be the conjunction you need in all of life’s transitions.

Are you Committed?

Commitment is one of those words that strikes fear in some and excitement into others. To be honest, it depends on what that commitment may be to. For example, my students have no problem committing to their favorite activity, but have a harder time committing to their school work. Why is it that we are able to cling to some things, but then have apathy or disgust for others? Why can we not take that same level of dedication into one area of life as we do with another area?

Let’s be honest. I despise cleaning. I hate the dentist too. However, if I were to have to choose a daily dentist visit over having to clean my house every day, I’m not sure that it would be such an easy decision. You can call it laziness. You can call it apathy. You can call it whatever you would like, but the truth is, it is a lack of commitment. As someone who has excelled academically, I have an ability to dedicate my time and efforts to my school work. Yet, why am I so hesitant to do so when it comes to my house? I’m not sure that I have an answer, but I do have a problem. You see, what we are committed to is actually a reflection on our character, interests, and personality. If I invested a lot of time into sports, I might be an athlete. If I invested a lot of time into my homework, I might be a nerd. The fact that I do not invest a lot of time into taking care of my house makes me irresponsible. The truth is I need to take that same level of commitment I show in other areas of my life and apply it to cleaning. Not because everyone needs am immaculate house, but because this is a reflection on how I value myself. What I am committed to shows what I care about.

Why is this important?

The first reason is that a lack of commitment can have consequences. If you are not committed to your job, you will probably be fired. If you are not committed to a relationship, it will not be healthy. If you are not committed to your diet, you can become sick. A lack of commitment leads to consequences. This week I hurt someone I love a lot because I did not put any effort into showing them that I respected them with my actions. While the process I was committing to was not something I looked forward to, it was something that was important to the other person. It tortures me to know my lack of consistent dedication hurt someone else. And now I am in the midst of the consequences. While I’m not sure that the situation will ever be rectified, I am sure that I seriously look at consistent commitment in a new light and that process I was not dedicated to before will see the utmost level of dedication daily from now on.

More importantly, commitment is important in our relationship with Christ. Christ does not want us to just follow lightly in His footsteps- he wants committed disciples. I often see the quote, “God does not ask about our ability or our inability, but about our availability.” How often are you available for God? If we are committed, we are not only available, but God will make us able as well. Interestingly, two Bible verses that stick out to me are (and I wish I had known them before):

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him to help you do it and he will. – Psalm 37:5

Commit your work to the Lord, then it will succeed. – Proverbs 16:3

Not only does Christ want us to be committed to Him, but the only way we can full succeed in other areas is to do so. I cannot overcome my disdain of cleaning without God’s help. He is able to make us succeed in any area that brings glory to His name. I used to think that cleaning was a trivial matter to God, but let’s face it- God cares about the details. One of the wisest people I know constantly reminds me, “If you are faithful in the little, then I can trust you to be faithful with more.” Cleaning, school work, our jobs, our relationships are commitments that God cares about because He cares about us.

So I ask you:

Are you committed to Christ?

Are you committed to the things He wants you to do?

Are you willing to handle to consequences if you are not committed?

If you're not ready, check out this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsSR4VrmsRY