the tree has much to give, will you enjoy what it offers?

I went to Mellow Mushroom with a friend today after visiting an Advent Mass. We talked about lots of things. Many of which I cannot properly name what it's about. Towards the end, after about 1 1/2 hours of pizza and soft pretzels, my friend interrupts me and says, "Listen...you just need to chill. Quit trying to figure out how things work. Chill."

Chill.....I will tell you, this drove me nuts when we left. "How do you chill? I know how I chill when I'm with my buds. But each is so different"...the thought puzzled me. It's a way to express myself to someone, right?

I used to(and admittingly still do) think and ponder what it means to do something. Whether is loving, chilling, playing, singing, and/or living...I would search out the answer.

I'd go to different people and seek their way of doing these. Seeing if I know how some do it, that I too may be the same and would save me from being wrong.

Do any of you catch the hidden motive there? I never would have thought there was until I just quit trying to understand, and look at it. It's pride. I want to be right. I don't want people to look at me for doing it wrong; instead, I want them to see me doing it right. No fully committed heart intentions focused on Pleasing my God.

Reality is...there is no "right/wrong" way to express yourself for God. God looks at the heart. Sees the desire to please Him, and responds. He loved us first, we respond, and He responds yet again. The cycle with love which starts and ends with God loving us, not vice versa.

May I come to know my personal way of expressing myself to God. May it drive me deeper, and deeper, and deeper, and deeper into who God is to ME. May it create genuine-ness and creativity.