WHY WE DO, WHAT WE DO

                What would be the purpose in reading a blog about Christianity? It might seem weird to start a blog off asking a question like this. Although, I’m sure you have your reasons. Further, what would even qualify me to write a Christian blog? I’m not a scholar nor a well-educated person. What qualifies me to write a book about Christianity? You have a purpose to read as much as I have a purpose to write. I have read and studied the

bible for many years without attaining credentials. However, to some people I am still not qualified to write. Even further, I fail to understand why I would want to read other Christian authors. To be completely honest, I have only read most of three Christian based book. I haven’t finished any of them. Except I have read a few others Christian blogs. However, this still doesn’t qualify my. I fail to have a shared knowledge from other Christian authors to contribute to my credibility. To continue to beat around the bush of the original question, I am exactly the right person to write this blog because no one else has lived my life to share what I have discovered.  
             As much as I have a purpose to write, you have a deep-rooted reason to sit down and read. Maybe you like to sit down to read because you enjoy the stories. They captivate you and take you away to a faraway, anywhere but here land. Or maybe you are more like me and want to absorb all the information you can about a certain subject. Regardless of your reason for reading, what is important is that you HAVE a reason for reading, or at least a reason to watch YouTube videos. Whatever floats your boat (no judgement on my part, I like YouTube). So perhaps my opening question should read a bit more like this: what is YOUR purpose for reading a blog about Christianity?
                The question being changed from “what would be the purpose,” to, “what is your purpose,” changes the answer. It does for me at least. As you continue to read, you will understand more fully the importance of knowing your purpose. Not just your purpose for reading but also your purpose in life. Your purpose as a Christian. The question changes from a general question that applies to a large number of readers to a narrow question specific to you. By changing the focus towards you, it becomes a very personal question. You have a purpose to sit and read as much as I have a purpose to sit and write. I have my own personal, unique reason to share with everyone the reason I decided to write. I want to inspire.
I struggled with reading because of a learning disability known as CAP (Central Auditory Processing). It has caused many years of struggle and frustration with reading. I remember when I was about 13 years old, my parents bribed me with $10 per book that I read one summer. These books had some criteria to meet to qualify for the money and I made $70 that summer (That’s 7 short teen novels). To be frank, I have no idea what books I read but I do remember the yellow skateboard I bought that summer (give me a break I was 13). My purpose for reading at that time was the incentive to read for money. It wasn’t much of a purpose to read. I retained nothing and it sparked nothing in me to continue to read. Money was never a good motivator for me. Which lead me to an understanding, if I were to have a reason to read because I faced such difficulty with my learning disability, than the books had to be worthwhile. The bible is worth the struggle and now I have been thoughtfully reading it for roughly 20 years.
                I do suggest you read the bible every day, multiple times a day for a minimum of 20 years and spend at least 5 years as an evangelist for a congregation. It will open your eyes to see how full life is from other peoples perspectives. From my experience, I discovered a truth: people don’t change that much. Biologically when we are young, our brains are developing and a whole bunch of “highways” open up that allow us to have emotion, develop perceptions and senses and even strengthen our abilities to learn. But as we age from children to young adults, some of these “highways” start narrowing or even shutting down. Our brains send signals back and forth on these highways as we continue to experience our lives. These will either strengthen or weaken over time. Neither being strong nor weak is good or bad, but it simply defines who we are. Some might be more empathetic. Those of you who are empathetic will find it natural and easy to empathize with someone who is in pain. Other people’s brains shut this road down but they have an uncanny ability to react quickly under intense pressure. Empathetic nurses and focused Doctors as a real life example. Not to suggest that a doctor can’t be empathetic and focused but I would rather a focused doctor if I am in need of serious and quick help.
                   What does this have to do with purpose to reading you ask? Great question my fellow reader! While you dive into my intense and incredibly boring, non-informative blog, keep in mind that you had a purpose to reading this book prior to starting it. All jokes aside, your purpose for reading is different from any other persons. Your biological makeup makes you unique! Perhaps I am an opportunist and I seek out opportunities in all situations. Regardless, you have a very unique purpose developed through these highways in your brain. Your purpose is yours. No one else has your brain and purpose. Your purpose is unique and applies only to you because I have no idea what you have experienced in your life to get you to this point. We need to recognize our purpose as being unique to our biology and that we are the only ones on our path. My purpose to write is because my brain “clicked” so to speak and from my experiences, I found it necessary to tell the world what realistic Christianity is.
                 A great way to explain Christianity and the connection to why we do what we do is to think of it as a narrow ledge to walk on. Analogies work for me. Imagine that like is like a super narrow path that you follow your whole life. We will discuss the destination and save it for later chapters. On this ledge, there is only room for one person at a time. Walk sideways and hold hands if you must but its narrow!
              Have you ever tried walking sideways on something narrow? As a kid did you ever play around in the house on the back edge of the couch before your parents yelled at you to get off? Trying to get across a narrow ledge without falling is already a challenge but holding someone’s hand is another story. Imagine you’re on the edge of a (insert a place that’s applies to you, mountain, cliff, bridge, building etc…) and you’re holding someone’s hand. Imagine that the person you were hanging on to, were to step off intentionally. No one said that this imaginary person was smart. Your heart leaps to your throat and your muscles tense as you tried to both, hang on to them and steady your footing. You quickly realize in that split second that if you keep hanging on, you will go down with them. You need to make a choice quickly. Do you hang on to the narrow ledge or take a fall? This is where your biological uniqueness comes in. some of you might say, “let go of the hand,” others, “jump,” and others still might ask: “who’s hand am I holding?” maybe to weigh your options? If you were to let go of the hand or you were to fall down with them is irrelevant at this point. Right now, recognize your reaction to the situation; let go, hang on or reassess your life choices.
                Being a Christian is full of choices like this. Usually, they are more subtle but they are many. Your purpose to be a Christian or to learn about Christianity or even to seek out answers is all rooted in your unique purpose. Your unique brain that God designed. Your brain will decide what happens to that person on the cliff. Your reaction is where you will find your purpose to read. To learn. To live. Why read my blog? Because God made you unique and God doesn’t make mistakes (pretty dramatic ending, hey?).