Serious

Emily Ratajkowski, well known body-paint model and social commentator, complained recently that she doesn’t get “serious” roles in Hollywood.  (I have trouble assigning the word “serious” to anything related to Hollywood, but that’s another article.)  She’s too pretty.  She’s too sexual.  Her breasts are too big.  So after getting famous by taking her top off (in the “Blurred Lines” video and a bit part in Gone Girl, so I’m told — I happily plead ignorance), so she doesn’t get to play Marie Curie, Jackie Kennedy or Queen Elizabeth.  Life’s just like that sometimes, I guess.

But let’s get serious ourselves for a moment.  We are not allowed to choose the consequences for our actions.  We can aim for them.  We can try repeatedly in hopes that things turn out the way we want.  But you cannot get a college degree in art (because that’s where your passion is) and then whine about not getting a six-figure salary right away like your friends in petroleum engineering.  You reap what you sow.  Says so in the Bible (Galatians 6:7).

Now let’s get serious about your soul.  We all want a close relationship with God.  We certainly want a strong hope of heaven.  And then we give God whatever time is left in our schedule, whatever change is left in our pockets, whatever attention is left after we’ve poured it all out for the home team.  But somehow we leave worship uninspired, we close prayers feeling empty, we never seem to learn anything in Bible study.  Turns out, not only will you reap what you sow, you will reap in proportion to your level of commitment.  Says so in the Bible (2 Corinthians 9:6).

Every turn you take in your life will take you in a particular direction.  If you don’t wind up where you want to be, don’t blame the map.  Or the road.  And please, don’t blame me.