Are you a stranger?

"We are aliens, aliens, aliens in this world." (repeat).

This was the chorus to a song my brother wrote early in life during a phase that included a fascination with aliens (Mom, Dad, Kirstin, and Shawn...I bet the tune just ran through your head).  The words came from the Bible, 1 Peter 2:11 to be exact, "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world."

In light of 1 Peter 2:11 and my brother's song, my question for you is

"Are you an alien, alien, alien in this world?"


As I have been reading through 1 Peter I have started to realize what being an "alien" or "stranger" in this world means.

Have you ever met anyone famous? Have you ever looked up to someone and not wanted to embarass yourself in front of them (someone older and respected)?  Have you ever liked someone of the opposite sex and had an experience with him or her (embarassing or otherwise)?
How would you or did you respond when you were around them?  (stop for a moment and think...)


I tend to appraoch these experiences with a hesitant and reserved attitude.  I say every word and place every step with care not wanting to make a fool of myself or reveal my hidden faults.  If I am around someone I truly respect or admire (famous people, wise elders, valued friends), I want them to value me so I do everything I can to show them I am worthy.

This is what I think of when I think about another verse in 1 Peter (1:17), "...live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear."  I interpret this verse to mean that we should live our lives here on earth like we would if there were someone famous or respected in our lives everyday.  We should be careful of every word we say and watch everywhere we go in an effort to impress our Maker and show him that we are worthy.

The End of the Beginning

Today I finished reading through Nehemiah and am left to ponder exactly how it is going to apply to my life.  I am amazed at how reading through the book and commenting on each verse has helped me notice important aspects of the book that I had never known.  There really is so much about leadership in that book, which I will need as I journey to camp in less than a month.  It will be interesting to see how these lessons play out even now as God prepared me for my experience at camp.  Ready or not, the journey has began.