Genesis 1:27 states, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Since we are young children, we’re constantly reminded of our unique qualities and our true value. We are taught to love everyone no matter how different they are. I have always believed that no matter how dark and grimace a person appears to be on the outside, that everyone has some beauty to them. Or should I say, almost everyone. Going through my high school years, I started to degrade someone very important.
I started to put this person down for their physical attributes until eventually, I put this person down for their personality, their talents and interests and even the way they thought. I managed to tear this person down into shreds without any mercy. This person was me. No matter what I did, it never felt good enough for me. This mindset I had placed myself self in was not only a lie, but it was hurtful. I got to the point where I couldn’t do a whole lot for myself. I wondered what I did in order to be much less than everyone around me. I hated feeling the way that I did.
My negative mindset was taking a lot away from me. Through years and years of putting myself through my little own hell, I finally decided that enough was enough. It took me a very long time to realize that I didn’t have a reason to feel the way I did. It wasn’t until a good friend invited me to church that something changed. I finally understood for once that it was okay to be filled with imperfections. I finally understood that my imperfections made me the unique person that I was meant to be. Upon arriving at church, I finally felt like I belonged. I felt like I found the missing puzzle piece that I had lost.
Becoming a Christian didn’t make my problems go away. Becoming a Christian allowed me to handle my problems in a much better way. My ability to understand things was much better. I became an active member of church. I taught children, took classes, went on retreats, and ultimately became a much better person. Because of the strong influence that Christianity has had on my life, I have decided to take it upon myself to read the bible before the end of the year. This behavior modification will help my spiritual wellness, which in my case has a very strong effect on my intellectual, social, and emotional wellness.
Never do I feel more at peace with myself and with the world then when I am doing what I love. For what I have been taught, spiritual wellness is about understanding yourself as well as your purpose on this planet. Whatever experts or textbook might say, I believe that spiritual wellness is about being at peace with your self. It’s about accepting the flaws and qualities that make your that 1 in 8 billion. Needless to say, spiritual wellness is a gateway to being well in various other aspects of your life. In my time at church, I have been reminded over and over again that knowing the word of God is essential to your growth as a Christian.
It is also essential to your growth as a person. For those who believe in it, the bible is a somewhat like an answer key. Both my pastor and youth pastor have insisted upon the importance of becoming familiar with the bible and what it has in store for you. This is more of a motivation for to read the bible by the end of the year. Right now, I am finding it very difficult to stick my plan of reading the bible everyday. It’s really difficult in that I am a full time college student that forced to study, read, and do many, many, many, more things that are also very important in this point in time.
Sadly, I am still in the contemplation stage of my goal. I am well aware of what I want to do, and I know that I will accomplish it eventually. But given the situation I am in, it’s really difficult. It is my goal to be admitted to ministry/theology school. My goal is to graduate from UCO as a Clinical Lab Scientist and from The International School of Ministry in 2017. I know right away that having two degrees will make me a much better candidate for employment when the time comes for me to find a good employment. Also, having a degree in theology will make me a much well rounded person.
There is nothing more rewarding to see your hard work paying off. I know that this is part of a long journey of growth and learning for me. I know that reading and knowing the bible will serve as a strong foundation for my life long journey of learning and growing as a person. Right now, I am finding it very difficult to stick my plan of reading the bible everyday. It’s really difficult in that I am a full time college student that forced to study, read, and do many, many, many, more things that are also very important in this point in time.
