Not too long ago I sarcastically tweeted about fanny packs and Crocs. Within a few hours I had started a online revolt involving fashionistas versus people pledging allegiance to the modern-day Dutch clog.
Fanny Pack wearers came out of the wood works to defend the pouch-purse as the most revolutionary way to carry life’s essentials in one easy swoop. Two words I heard over and over in reply to questioning the existence of these essentials: easy and comfortable.
Easy and comfortable.
Two adjectives that sum up our goal in life. We love doing easy. We enjoy being comfortable. In and of those statements lay the discontentment in any sort of trial or stretching.
This satiric critique of fashion led to a bigger issue many express with the frustration in life. We want to be lovers of Jesus without having to share him with others. We want the blessings of fellowship without the cost of discipleship. We want the comfort of his arms without acknowledging the pain he endured.
This, my dear friends, shant be.
To live a life of ease and comfort is to remove the One who forsook the ability to change all to endure what we wouldn’t have to. To desire an unchallenged life is to look upon a heap of marred rubble and wish for times passed instead of rebuilding what was destroyed.
Our relationship with our creator was broken. Left in its place was nothing but broken pieces of what once was. To get back to a world of peace and sweet comfort takes more than the easy of fanny-packs and the comfort of Crocs.
Do the hard that makes us uncomfortable. Easy and comfortable will never make you the person you’re called to be.
Feel free to share your easy… or your hard. I’m listening.
If you own Crocs or a Fanny Pack, do your thang'. From what I understand, Crocs are the cat's meow.
My easy: Believing the lie I don't need to change.
My hard: Doing the things I know God has called me to do… with or without the approval of others.
My hard: similar to yours…and also recently I have really felt led to compliment people, strangers, when I pass them in the street (I was literally thinking about this at lunch as I passed someone on my way back to work). Not just making stuff up, but if I've seen someone looking great, or wearing something lush then I should tell them. But it's hard not to worry that they'll think you're crazy! Even though I'm sure it would brighten up their day.
My easy: slobbing in front of the tv and 'wishing' I was more disciplined to do something else!!!!
Wow, B, God used your blog to speak to me today for sure! Because of serious financial hardships, I've had to miss the last two weeks of my college program, and today the school called looking to talk to me. I'm so afraid they're going to kick me out, and of recieving a reprimand, I didn't answer! How pathetic! Usually I am a hard worker and a teacher's pet, so I am terrified of what might happen! Instead, I've been panicking, pondering possible scenarios… When I saw this post, I realized I have to face the music. God's will be done…
Thanks, B! Much love ..
Hi Alyssa Marie. I don't know where you are, so am probably not familiar with your college system, but I went to and worked for a university in Canada. While I was a student there I missed a good portion of my term because of illness. My professors were more than willing to be flexible and extend my deadlines (policies are in place), so that I wouldn't lose my credits or tuition money. Just be honest with them, tell them what would help you, and ask them what they can do. They don't want to kick you out any more than you want to be, but you need to communicate with them. Help them make the decision that will be good for both of you. Best wishes.
Prayed for you!
my easy: following my Jesus and sharing from the comfort of my own home, car, computer, phone..whatever
my hard: doing outside, in fellowship with others…not sure why…some fear i guess
My easy: believing I am limited by illness and not fear
My hard seems to be everything else right now
Easy: Doing nothing about my situation. Sitting and becoming more and more depressed. Wallowing is self pity. I'll let someone else do "it," much easier, no matter what the it is.
Hard: Getting out of the chair. Wrapping my brain around a career change at 41, that I did not initiate. Loosing weight. Seeking help for depression.
Working on: Got out of the chair, loosing weight, wrapping my brain around a career change, accepting it and going for it. Seeking God more, Getting help for depression. Not all in a days work, but a little every day goes a long way.
I love crocks.
Thank you for this post! Lately I've been complaining and agonizing over how hard everything in our life has been the past several years. I heard myself tell people over and over again that I'm sick of the struggle, and I'm tired of how hard everything is all the time. I always heard a small whisper of a voice way back deep inside in response, saying that without the struggle I couldn't be molded into who I was meant to be. I admit that I'm so stubborn that I definitely wouldn't have changed. AT.ALL. had it not been for the past 3 years of hardship.
My hard: being grateful and happy for God's close attention to my life and aiding me in becoming the woman He created me to be through the struggles and hardships.
My easy: pretending that I don't have to do the work in order to get what/where I want
My easy: Encouraging others with God's promises.
My hard: Believing and acting on those same promises.
My easy: Believing the lie of being too busy with motherhood to be involved in ministry
My hard: Being disciplined in all areas of being a follower Jesus Christ
Thank you for the challenge to do what is hard and uncomfortable. I read something from John Piper this morning talking about how easy it is to think we have the right to be comfortable. He then compared his life as a pastor to that of a missionary and how laughable it is that he complained about extra meetings or an ill-timed phone call when others walk miles in the dusty heat to serve others. Definitely convicting.
On a lighthearted note: Don't Be Hatin' On My Fly Kicks http://www.somewiseguy.com/2011/01/dont-be-hating…
My easy: Believing that worry and anxiety will make my life better and give me control over what happens to me.
My hard: Accepting God's grace and peace every day, and believing that His way is the best way (regardless of the outcome).
This post reminds me of a quote I've been reading a lot. It gives me acceptance concerning the "hardness" of life:
Francis Chan wrote (in Crazy Love), “God doesn’t call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if he doesn’t come through.”
What's easy is doing my thing, fellowshipping with my friends, while serving here and there at church.
What's difficult it God won't let me settle for less:) He wants me to expand my friendships, and give them meaning in Him. He desires that I would serve not only when it's convenient, but when and where He desires. What's difficult is I need to be growing in my relationship, prayer and bible time. Though all of these things are difficult, I know they are more than worth it. Thank you God for challenging your children!
p.s. is there really an excuse for crocs or fanny packs? lol
My easy: Loving God.
My hard: Loving the people God put in my path who I don't care for.
Easy: Forgiving others. I guess being married over a decade and raising a teen has allowed me to exercise that forgiveness muscle.
Hard: To not be conformed to society's laxity (did I use that word correctly?) on issues, some with eternal consequences. Also, how to engage with people… I read your blog frequently & usually want to comment, but delete my comments because the fear of rejection…
And oh, I've worn Crocs due to long work hours AND I support fanny packs especially to seniors… Don't hate me, but I forced my daughter who was in grade school to sport a fanny pack to house her inhaler and meds… Now that she's a teen, she told me that she took that thang off every morning after I dropped her off at school!!!
Good stuff. I just finished “In His Steps” and am convicted. Not condemned though 🙂
What would Jesus do? Sad that the church today likes the easy way of Christianity. Often doesn’t involve sacrifice. Even tithing, often its just doing our duty, but we don’t have to give anything up to give the money to tithe. What’s the point if there’s no suffering or sacrifice?
🙂
Good stuff! It's so easy to stick with the easy.
I'd say my EASY: Encouraging and giving to others. I love it!
My HARD: Trusting God in my own life at ALL times. I get in a frenzy when the unexpected happens to me, but He's proven himself faithful over and over. I guess trust is just something that can always be more deeply developed.
My easy: Staying in my same job due to financial obligations and the tension it would create in my marriage, though I've felt called to ministry for quite awhile now
My hard: Keeping a constant state of pure devotion and prayer. I sway so easily with my prayer life, even though I feel closer to God in those times. 2010 was a very hard year, my husband and I lost 2 babies due to miscarriages, we have to trust God each day, even though we can't see His plan at this time.
I tweeted about crocs being disgusting one time and got a reply from someone from the crocs site defending their attractiveness. Seriously? With crocs and Uggs, I have the same viewpoint. You might be comfortable, but you look like a moron. You're only allowed to wear snow boots in places that often receive FEET of snow. Two inches is not okay.
I hate going into hospitals and seeing nurses wearing crocs. I know you're on your feet, but have some pride. My mom is on her feet for hours cleaning on concrete and wouldn't be caught dead in them.
My easy: believing I'm not a leader and need to barely do enough to get by.
My hard: getting off my butt and being excellent rather than just mediocre.
At my university we do two semesters of student teaching. My first semester I was placed in a private school where the kids behaved unlike any 8th graders I had ever witnessed, polite,motivated, an willing. The next semester I was placed in an inner city school where it is a good day when only one fight breaks out during class. I have known for a while that this was the calling on my life to not only teach but love on the hardened hearts of the middle shoolers in the inner city. So my easy and hard are …
My easy: teaching at the wealthy private school
My hard: following my calling to teach at an inner city
I avoided your blog today because I knew it was going to be a mirror post (looking at myself)…____Here's it goes. ____Easy: Pretending I'm not in pain and that it's all good in the neighboorhood and it will pass. __Hard: Sharing Jesus. Not letting go and simply trust in God and failing to see the streching, stregthing and lesson I need to learn as I pass thru the fire.
One of my big Easy/Hard is the same as Ruthiey –
Easy: Encouraging others with God's words.
Hard: Living that out in my own life.
But my feet don't have to hurt to do the hard things. Tee hee. 🙂
Wow! I really like your perspective! I hadn't thought of it that way.
My easy- Relying on and trusting God in the big things (when it is obvious I don't have any control).
My hard- Relying on and trusting God in all of the little things (that I think that I should be able to handle on my own).
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