The Rose

A LETTER TO YOU, THE READER, SO THAT YOU CAN FINALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT I’M THINKING.

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THIS MONTH: All Hail the… Me!

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Dear Reader,

Did I ever mention that I don’t like November? I remember, last year, about this time, I said something about that. And, to be truthful, I’m still not very fond of November, but this one has been WARM! Yes, that’s right, God has graced the Detroit area with a good ole’ fashioned indian summer. So, the good news is, this year, I’m not absolutely depressed because it’s gray and drear outside; however, that does pretty much describe today. And, today is… Thanksgiving Day!! Happy Thanksgiving everybody! 😀 But, since today is Thanksgiving, I believe it’s appropriate to pause and give thanks, which brings me to this month’s topic.

This November, the U.K.’s Prince William announced his engagement to Kate Middleton, who he has been dating openly since college. As they began to plan their wedding for April 29, 2010, reporters shoved microphones in their faces, British citizens swooned, and high school girls around the world sobbed crocodile tears. Suddenly, Kate Middleton was being compared to Princess Diana, Prince William’s mother, (due to the fact that, according to Reuters, William proposed on a recent vacation to Kenya with his mother’s ring), and heads were nodding in insistence that they be married in the same church, and in the same public fashion, as Prince William’s parents. There was even negative commentary. In an article for the The Guardian, Stephen Bates and Andrew McCorkall reported: “Those of a cynical bent noted that the newly-weds would share their wedding anniversary with Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun.” Yet, at the same time, level heads were kept; for example, family members, like Prince William’s father, brother, and grandmother, Prince Charles, Prince Harry, and Queen Elizabeth, released statements to the press about how exited and happy they were for the new couple.

But, the real reason for all of this hype was because this marriage was occurring within the royal family. Prince William, after all, as a member, is second in line for the throne after his father, Prince Charles, so, of course, this was no occasion to snub one’s nose at. Kate Middleton, by marriage, could eventually become, literally, the future queen of England.  Therefore, this decision affected the world, like it or not.

But, I still can’t help but to consider, despite their outward congratulations, good wishes, and interest, how many people in our world actually really cared about their engagement. Really, these people probably cared more about the fact that another spot in line for the throne was taken, that Prince William was no longer ever going to officially be single, or that their paycheck was coming another day, from the breaking news of the story or from its long term global consequences. In fact, for whatever reason, most likely because he’s royalty, few people, including myself, have ever really met Prince William in person. Yet, they care.

Except, I’m willing to bet that they care more about how his event influences them than about the royal couple. Because, interestingly enough, they probably care more about themselves than anyone else, including royalty itself. In fact, they would even, most likely, subconsiously, readily dub themselves king or queen of England this very instant.

Because, the fact of the matter is, people are just outright selfish. I know, for me, it’s hard not to be. And, for all of the giving we do, we really do expect something, now or eventually, back in return. For example, the reason I no longer sponsor a child through World Vision or Compassion International is because I could no longer afford my sponsorship of those children. Often, I still think of them; yet, I reason that, if I cannot even take care of myself, I cannot take care of someone else, however much they may need my help.

But, Anne Hathaway makes a great point in The Princess Diaries: “And then I realized how many stupid times a day I used the word “I”. In fact, probably all I ever do is think about myself…But then I thought, if I cared about the other 7 billion out there instead of just me, that’s probably a much better use of my time.”

I’m willing to bet, though, that putting that statement into practice is the hardest part. Yet, that’s exactly what the pastor at Riverview Church challenged his congregation to do last month in his sermon. And, actually, I was there. I was visiting my sister, Julia, a sophomore in college, at Michigan State University.

And, this sermon has stuck with me throughout this month.

It has stuck with me, especially in my course load, as I painfully observe how deeply entrenched modern atheism is as it is presented to me in my education. Did you know this is why anthropology was invented? It was invented to fill a void, to answer the questions about human existence, in a world without God. I want to cry out, and my heart sobs for those that don’t believe, that there is more than ourselves!

And, it has stuck with me in my personal life this month, which began with a flurry of registering for my final semester of classes and writing essays for my University of Michigan college application. And, as the month wraps up and the end of this semester draws closer, I again find myself self-absorbed in my own life, my own studies. In fact, my mom even started complaining that I was acting a bit like a princess. But, it’s not just me. The #1 complaint in my house this month is that “you think you’re so great”, and I’m sure that’s very true.

In my spiritual life lately, God has been asking me to simply trust Him. He’s been asking me to “walk the path”, despite all of my doubts about the matter. He’s been challenging me to believe in 1 Kings 19 and James 1, as if to say, “What are you doing here, Jessica? Go on, finish up your schoolwork. Don’t give up, because you are not alone.” And, finally, two nights ago, I prayed and surrendered.

So, this Thanksgiving, I want to pause and reflect on being thankful for something that doesn’t have to do with myself. Sin has everything to do with ME, and how I put MYSELF on the throne of my life. Therefore, I chose to give up the throne, and let God be the King of Kings. I challenge you to do the same.

I’m going to post the link to the sermon here, and I encourage you to watch it. This is the thought for the month. This is what I’m thinking about: you. Chose the video link for “Self-Centeredness”. Here you go:

http://rivchurch.com/grow/weekend-services/messages/

Again, happy November, and have a very Happy Thanksgiving. Until next month, thanks for reading. Take care, all!

Your Author/Writer,

Jessica McLean