As I post here and in future posts with the spirit of this one, I want to reiterate that 'me-anderings' is exactly that.  A chance for 'me' to share what seems to fill my mind and heart at this stage in my life.  It is, as I put on the front page, not AT ALL about being 'right' but about being 'faithful'.  NOT deciding how someone else should be faithful but how I feel God is calling ME to be faithful. 

Even for someone who is a communicator, it is easier to remain quiet many times.  Often that is wise but, sometimes, it is important to give voice if one is to feel faithful.  

Hence, meanderings:

I am one who worries about the label 'Christian' because it is just so loaded with many images I do not think represent what Christ meant.  Like all labels, the extremes seem to be where those who are NOT that label find their descriptors.  I get that and I try REALLY hard not to do the same to others. 

I believe, as was said in the sermon I heard this week, that we humans can be harsher judges than God.   Sad but true, methinks.

I got a Bible as a kid that has Christ's words in 'red letters' and ever since reading those red letters, I have used them as my measure.  I realize even these red letters are up to debate but I think their Truth rises so that is where I choose to land.  I like the Man that is described by those words so when I read them, I think less in terms of the phrase Christian and more in terms of the phrase Christ-like. 

 THAT is what I would like to be....Christ-like. 

 Seems something that most anyone can read and relate to and then embrace or not...up to you. 

Anyway, this then informs my life.

For example, that bracelet WWJD (what would Jesus do) has more depth in light of those red letters. 

It also makes things harder because many times I just don't know what Jesus would do NOW and I most certainly often feel that what I do is not what Jesus would do.  

BUT, I do believe that those red letters give us a hint as to HOW Jesus would DO....the spirit with which he would BE...

...SO, I am going to make a concerted effort to continue to ponder WWJD in light of the spirit of those red letters and I invite you to join me if you choose...again, up to you.

 I begin with guns because of what has happened just this week in the state I was in this past month, the state I live in and this country of ours...more gun violence in places where anyone, but especially a child, ought to be able to just DO and BE.

I hear  the very human rationale of many, Christian and non-Christian alike, that more of us should just carry a gun.  

Then I ponder and consider what the Christ-like answer might be.

In other words, in light of those red letters, What Would Jesus Do?

I just don't think He would carry a gun.