If I were a function, I would choose to be
Here's what I would look like on the surface:
This function looks like a straight line. It may not look particularly interesting, but it has a few pretty important features.
1) First, it has a positive slope. As time passes, the value of the function increases. As time passes in my life, I want my experiences, wisdom, knowledge, love, and closeness to Jesus to increase, as well.
"All things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
2) This graph has a hole at 2. That is, in fact, a fancy mathematical term--hole. This occurs because the top function can be rewritten as (x - 2)(x + 2). Since there is an (x - 2) factor in the bottom of the function, those (x - 2) factors cancel each other out. This means the first function (the one I would choose to be) is identical to f(x) = x + 2 at every single point except at x = 2. Just like my function, I have holes in my life. I have holes where I struggle with sin (the kind that separates us from God, not the kind that relates the opposite side in a triangle with it's hypotenuse!) I have holes where I've been hurt by people. I have holes where I make decisions based on me rather than God. I have holes where I try to ignore the things that scare me or sound difficult. I have holes where I don't try something because of "perfection paralysis". The Holy Spirit is like the second nearly equivalent function. When God looks at me, he only sees f(x) = x + 2 because Jesus is standing in the gap for me!
"Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of the God, who also makes intercession for us." Romans 8:34
3) A function can be undefined at a point (like at x = 2 in my function) and still have a limit at that point. The value of the limit of this function at 2 is 4. It doesn't matter that there isn't actually a value for the function there. It's clear that the function is approaching 4 as you approach 2 from both the left and right sides of the function. You don't need to be a Calculus student to understand the idea that the line is getting closer to 4 on both sides of 2. I want to be defined by what I'm approaching rather than by my hole. I want to be approaching Jesus at all times from all directions so that I can be defined by my faith, love, and obedience to Jesus rather than my deficiencies and weaknesses.
"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24
Underneath, I look like this:
This is the graph of the top and bottom expression graphed individually on the same graph. As with most people, there is more than meets the eye. While I may appear to be on a perfectly straight and always positive trajectory, underneath I experience rises, falls, and intersections. What appears on the surface is the quotient of infinitely many inputs, relationships, experiences, and lessons. One of the beautiful things about mathematics is that most things can be described in multiple ways.
Someone might appear to be a 10x, but underneath, they may really be a
The person who looks like a
might really be dealing with being a
This is really just my attempt to convince you with mathematics to be nice to everybody because you never know what someone else is going through.
Be vulnerable. Let others see your holes because, in the words of Pastor Tyler, "we impress with our strengths, but we connect through our weaknesses." My holes don't keep me from continuing on with a positive slope (and they look awesome in a graphing calculator!) Don't let your holes stop you or define you. Let Jesus do that, and don't limit people according to their holes. Even in mathematics, a graph can be described and useful and valuable regardless of its holes.
And I have to add, I am able to become more like Jesus and process the world around me and the emotions and thoughts inside me with greater depth and understanding because of my understanding of mathematics. It is valuable for more than just being able to count back change or figure out which bottled water case is the better deal!
This function looks like a straight line. It may not look particularly interesting, but it has a few pretty important features.
1) First, it has a positive slope. As time passes, the value of the function increases. As time passes in my life, I want my experiences, wisdom, knowledge, love, and closeness to Jesus to increase, as well.
"All things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
2) This graph has a hole at 2. That is, in fact, a fancy mathematical term--hole. This occurs because the top function can be rewritten as (x - 2)(x + 2). Since there is an (x - 2) factor in the bottom of the function, those (x - 2) factors cancel each other out. This means the first function (the one I would choose to be) is identical to f(x) = x + 2 at every single point except at x = 2. Just like my function, I have holes in my life. I have holes where I struggle with sin (the kind that separates us from God, not the kind that relates the opposite side in a triangle with it's hypotenuse!) I have holes where I've been hurt by people. I have holes where I make decisions based on me rather than God. I have holes where I try to ignore the things that scare me or sound difficult. I have holes where I don't try something because of "perfection paralysis". The Holy Spirit is like the second nearly equivalent function. When God looks at me, he only sees f(x) = x + 2 because Jesus is standing in the gap for me!
"Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of the God, who also makes intercession for us." Romans 8:34
3) A function can be undefined at a point (like at x = 2 in my function) and still have a limit at that point. The value of the limit of this function at 2 is 4. It doesn't matter that there isn't actually a value for the function there. It's clear that the function is approaching 4 as you approach 2 from both the left and right sides of the function. You don't need to be a Calculus student to understand the idea that the line is getting closer to 4 on both sides of 2. I want to be defined by what I'm approaching rather than by my hole. I want to be approaching Jesus at all times from all directions so that I can be defined by my faith, love, and obedience to Jesus rather than my deficiencies and weaknesses.
"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24
Underneath, I look like this:
This is the graph of the top and bottom expression graphed individually on the same graph. As with most people, there is more than meets the eye. While I may appear to be on a perfectly straight and always positive trajectory, underneath I experience rises, falls, and intersections. What appears on the surface is the quotient of infinitely many inputs, relationships, experiences, and lessons. One of the beautiful things about mathematics is that most things can be described in multiple ways.
Someone might appear to be a 10x, but underneath, they may really be a
might really be dealing with being a
This is really just my attempt to convince you with mathematics to be nice to everybody because you never know what someone else is going through.
Be vulnerable. Let others see your holes because, in the words of Pastor Tyler, "we impress with our strengths, but we connect through our weaknesses." My holes don't keep me from continuing on with a positive slope (and they look awesome in a graphing calculator!) Don't let your holes stop you or define you. Let Jesus do that, and don't limit people according to their holes. Even in mathematics, a graph can be described and useful and valuable regardless of its holes.
And I have to add, I am able to become more like Jesus and process the world around me and the emotions and thoughts inside me with greater depth and understanding because of my understanding of mathematics. It is valuable for more than just being able to count back change or figure out which bottled water case is the better deal!
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