The writer shares memories of a rural upbringing in the ‘80s and ‘90s, emphasizing the lack of typical neighborhood interactions and a humorous painting mishap with their father. They then reflect on Jesus’ teaching about what truly matters, highlighting humility, non-worldly success, love for enemies, gracious giving, and forgiveness instead of judgment.
One thing I’ve realized over the last few years is that I have a finite amount of energy every day. Don’t get me wrong, some days I have more energy than others, and some days I can get an artificial boost from a cup of coffee or a super-healthy energy drink, but for the most part, the amount of energy I have to expend every day stays pretty similar. Knowing that I only have a finite amount of energy for each day, I started thinking about what I was spending that energy on.