Just Cause

I’ve always loved words, which is one of the reasons I named my company Wordplay. I knew that depending on how you said certain things or the punctuation you used, could change the meaning of the exact same words. Just cause for instance could mean, just because. It could also mean a righteous pursuit or justified reason. We all seem right in our own eyes. We can always justify our actions.

After watching, “When They See Us,” I can see how everyone felt justified, yet it wasn’t true justice. Everyone had their reasons. Everyone had their excuses. Everyone had their perspectives and their biases. Personal motivation is a dangerous thing, and so is self preservation. We never really know what we will and won’t do until we find our backs against the wall. This is why it is so important not to judge, because everyone has just cause in our own minds.

Just

To be just has taken on a drastically different meaning since I have gotten married. It is no longer about who's wrong or who's right. Fair is no longer the moral standard. Compromise supersedes fairness. Humility trumps being right. Silence in some cases has become my portion. God is my judge and prayer is the jury. To be just is not just about justice, but inclusive of God's grace and mercy. Thank God that we do not have to suffer all of the consequences of our actions. Thank God for the grace of God. Thank God that he is just and forgiving, and merciful, and mindful.

Favor

I'm not a gambler simply because I don't like to lose. I never spend more than twenty dollars. I don't play the lottery despite the fact my husband believes, "you have to be in it to win it." I find no thrills in losing money. I prefer rollercoasters and movies. A couple years back my church had a women's conference that made you confront your fears. It was called "Fearless." We held snakes, shot arrows, wore bright red lipstick, and a host of other things that might incite fear. I got my Katniss Everdeen on.( She was the protagonist of the Hunger Games series.) I shot arrows at big bright targets, and I must admit I wasn't that bad. I held a boa constrictor. I stared at myself in the mirror and did some mirror work. What I learned that night was that when you face your fears you allow the favor of God to enter your life. You see things differently. You begin to understand that fear happens when you lose focus. Just like Peter when he walked on water. You must face your fears, have faith, focus on God and walk in his favor. 

"May the odds be ever in your favor."- Hunger Games