It’s been almost a month since I had one of the most transformative experiences of my life. It’s not cliche; it’s real. Every day I wake up, I step into the power of that transformation and live it out — with each step I take, with each word I speak, in each way I act. It is intentional, with purpose, because I make the decision to do so.
As a result of this life-changing encounter, I realized that in times past, I was living as a coward. I was living in fear of “what if” and preconceived notions of what others might think. I was living as an ordinary, average person. My esteem and confidence ebbed and flowed depending on the day and what happened in it. I was living a mundane, ho-hum life. It was boring, and so was I. Unfortunately, I had come to a place where it became my norm and I didn’t know it.
During this revolutionizing event at the end of February, I came toe-to-toe with myself. I faced some tough realities about how I had been living. Right before the amazing experience at the Landmark Forum took place, God pulled my coattail. She let me know, in the middle of chapel service at Christian Theological Seminary, She wasn’t pleased with how I had been living and adjustment was needed, with a quickness! Little did I know, I’d do just that in the days ahead.
I humbly accepted responsibility for my lackadaisical ways and prepared myself to take new actions. One of the best actions came as a result of a text message received from a friend who attended the forum, as well. She simply said, “Make it a great week!” We hear and say those five words often. They roll off our tongues, like water on a duck’s back. This time, those words had different meaning. They hit me with a new reality, that indeed I can make it a great week. It wouldn’t matter what happened. It wouldn’t matter who showed up. It wouldn’t matter what was said or if there was silence. It wouldn’t matter if the sun shined glowing rays of love, if the rain quenched the thirst of the earth or if the clouds decorated the sky. MY minutes, hours and days would be great.
The reason is found in 1 John 4:4b, which tells us that God in us is greater than anything in or of this world (paraphrased). Still, it’s a matter of choice as to whether we will believe it and act like it. In the chorus of her song “I Choose,” India Arie says, “And I choose to be the best that I can be. I choose to be authentic in everything I do. My past don’t dictate who I am. I choose.”
As we consider this Good Friday, keep in mind Jesus could’ve made the choice to come down from the cross. However, He chose to stay. He chose to stay so we can choose the Greater within us. Follow Jesus’ lead. Make the choice to not let people, circumstances or even your own thoughts — not your past, present or future — dictate who you are, ever. Like India said in the latter part of her song, “And every day, I have the opportunity to choose.” Make the choice daily to choose greatness! You’ll be glad you did, because it’s worth every moment!
Rae Karim is pastor at Northwood Christian Church. She can be reached at rae@Indyncc.org.
