The Only True Cause

It all started with wanting to reminisce for a minute…

One evening while Dan was gone, I decided to throw it back to the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, when the U.S. Gymnastics team took gold. I’ll fully admit, my sister and I were OBSESSED with this. To the point where we could (and still can) quote it. In fact, we were watching part of it with friends a few years ago and I said, “Oh, this is where Shannon Miller gets chalk in her eye…” and bam, yup. Maybe a little embarrassing, but hey, I was 12!

I strangely found myself tearing up a few times and I kept thinking, “C’mon Kristin, get a GRIP!” But I realized that the welling up of tears was far more than just the emotion behind this competition. They were a reflection of what has transpired since then.

These 7 women were nicknamed the Magnificent 7. Not for what they looked like or who they were, but for what they did. Granted I was only 12, but I don’t remember there being talk about their outward appearance, nationality, or color. They came together as one team, hands across their hearts as they sang the national anthem, flag being raised, after receiving their gold medals.

Their leotards. An American flag proudly graced the top of each, with the coaches and accessories the same theme.

I found that my teary eyes weren’t because of emotions from the event, but from what was. Again, I know in 1996, there were major issues in the world and I recognize that. But take one watch of an American Olympic event, and you will feel the sense of unity and pride that is felt.

And now I feel our little nation is divided, hurting, and screaming at each other about which agenda to follow.

My friend, there is NO agenda. NO campaign. NO social media thread, that will ever heal the hurt. Heal the pain. Heal the frustration. We are looking in all the wrong places. Searching in all the wrong places. And relying on all the wrong things. We are searching horizontally and the truth is that it will never satisfy.

The ONLY agenda. ONLY campaign. ONLY thread we should be sharing, that will ever… Heal the heart. Heal the pain. Heal the frustration. Is that of JESUS CHRIST.

JESUS CHRIST. He is the only answer, the only way, the only truth, and the only way to LIFE.

I am sickened and yes, get even MORE teary-eyed (trust me, more than the Olympics do), about the division and hate that is going on in our country. I struggle with any social media because of the stances everyone is taking. Now don’t get me wrong, I think it is important to stand up for what we believe in. PLEASE hear me out. But is what we are standing up for, the cause we are passionate about, greater than the cause of Christ?

That is the ONLY cause that we should be head over heels over. And if you think but…

As I often tell Mazy, “no more buts…”

When I stand before my Savior and Lord, at the gates of heaven, it won’t matter what my agenda was, except that of Christ himself. And if it was something else, it’s not going to get me to heaven. It’s STRICTLY whether or not I trust Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior, believe he is THE only way, believe that He died for ME, and choose to live every moment for him. In everything I do, is he my center? Is he my purpose? Is he my focus? Too often, my pride, selfishness, and personal agendas get in the way. Do I have a stance on things? Absolutely. But first and FOREMOST, it’s between me and God. Not between me and other people. Because if I make it about me and other people first, I’ve got it all wrong. But when I put Christ and his agenda first, to put HIM first and to love my neighbor as myself, it is through His saving grace and power that God will forever be glorified and all things will be reconciled to himself.

That’s the Truth.