Stripes

[00:00:00] Deconstructing a difficult week led to an encouraging epiphany. Tune in for more.

[00:00:10] Hello and welcome to MoMo634, the daily podcast chock full of faith-filled inspiration and

[00:00:17] motivation. Please like, share, and subscribe. MoMo634, Motivational Moments, just for today.

[00:00:41] As I've mentioned throughout the past week, I've been grappling with some stuff,

[00:00:46] trying to work through and process it. As is my default during challenging times, I listened

[00:00:53] to my childhood music as it was how I coped then, and it still seems to hit those misfiring neurons

[00:01:00] in the right way to recenter and recalibrate my brain. However, because it was the soundtrack of

[00:01:07] my life during much of the trauma of a really dark period in my life, it also brings up a lot of those

[00:01:15] old memories. Just the old pain, loneliness, and isolation I felt as an ostracized and bullied kid.

[00:01:23] As recounted in the episode My Origin Story, I was teased, beaten up, and verbally assaulted.

[00:01:31] Those three years of my life were the genesis of my lifelong battle with clinical depression. Thus,

[00:01:39] it's bittersweet reliving the memories in search of the relief. So as I sat in worship, focusing on Jesus

[00:01:46] and His redemptive work for mankind on the cross, it hit me. Hebrews 4.15 says,

[00:02:14] Some versions of 1 Peter 2.9 say we are His peculiar people. I know it means special or called for a purpose,

[00:02:23] purpose. However, we are to be different too. Jesus was different because as God's Son, He was willing to die for the sinful

[00:02:31] people who did all those horrible things and ultimately killed Him. I was peculiar because I was peculiar. Odd. Different.

[00:02:42] I'm not making a comparison because Jesus was perfect and without sin. I was clearly blemished and partly responsible for my ill

[00:02:53] treatment because the worse it got, the more I lashed out in response. Though I ultimately reached out as an adult to most of my

[00:03:03] tormentors through social media and made peace with them, friends, I can't save them. Only expose them to the one who can.

[00:03:14] But these thoughts, that someone gets it, gets me, was comforting. To know that I am not alone brings a level of peace that the music can't even begin to touch.

[00:03:27] Thankful though I am thankful, thankful though I am for it. The song, Sit Down, by the band James, contains these words.

[00:03:35] Those who feel the breath of sadness, sit down next to me. Those who find they're touched by madness, sit down next to me.

[00:03:48] Those who find themselves ridiculous, sit down next to me. Though it's not a religious song, I've always created a mental picture of it

[00:04:00] as an invitation to do exactly as Matthew 11, 28 through 30 says,

[00:04:28] Our meme for today says,

[00:04:30] He is along, not alone. Friends, he understands. He carries our burdens and he's paid the price.

[00:04:42] You are not alone. He is alongside his own peculiar people.

[00:04:51] Thanks for listening to Momo 634. Motivational moments just for today.

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