It's Complicated

People listen to what we say. They see the way we act and how we live our lives. Think back, have you ever thought, “I sound just like my parents.”

My great niece, who is six, misbehaved. No big surprise there; but, when she was asked why she acted out, she gave a wonderful answer, "You wouldn't understand - it’s complicated.”  

Her mother has told her this many times. It's here 'turn to' answer when a six year old gets into that rhythm of questions, "Why this, why that, how come, why, why, why."  The young mother will become frustrated and answer, "You wouldn't understand - it’s complicated.”  

Isn't it a shame we grow into our parents from a very young age. That's where we learn. Everything we know and everything we are comes from our interaction and conversation with others. What we see and what we hear influences us. 

This is a truth that Paul knew. Jesus knew it. Speak and live what you believe so it is the truth that people see. After his conversion, Paul began to evangelized the gospel and lived the good news of Jesus Christ. The language of Christ was not just the words Paul spoke; but, his life and the lessons, the love, and all the truths found in Jesus Christ, the savior of the world.

Jesus spread his message the same way, by living his message. His disciples had to think and live his truths. This is one reason Jesus taught in parables. Those who heard had to think about what was said. They would roll it over in their thoughts until their priorities and ideas changed. They realized new truths.  

In the Gospel of John, the disciples begin to understand Jesus' message saying “Now you are talking plainly. . . .” (Jn 16:29)  They changed. Their language and conversation changed.

Regretfully in today's world, the subject has changed. Society has changed the agenda of the conversation. It is now based on relativism. The conversation and truths are “me, me, and me some more.” I want to put forward is what is important to me and everybody should be like me.

We who know Christ need to change social conversation back to love as Jesus spoke it. We need to change what is spoken and acceptable. This will change society.

We begin evangelization in our selves. We begin in the way we live, speak, and interact with the world.  This change becomes the first in the order of our thoughts. It will be a change that evangelizes others. We share it with our family and friends; because, it becomes our language and our conversation, no matter what the topic.

Evangelization and conversation like Jesus; what would it be like? Without hate, without violence, and without prejudice maybe the conversation will become open to the world. Jesus Christ changed the world with the love and truth he spoke. It's a shame that in our weak human brokenness we've corrupted it. 

Love is complicated, but with Jesus Christ as our teacher, it become easy. With our hearts and our minds in the right place, it’s really not complicated.