The Art of Being a Sponge

In the T.V. show Heros, the character Peter Petrelli plays one of the main "heros". His super power is to absorb the abilities of other super heros. Whenever he is around someone who can fly, Peter suddenly finds that he has the ability to fly. When he is around someone who can heal, he suddenly takes on the ability to heal. Eventually, Peter accumulates so many powers that he loses his ability to effectively use them, and he faces the possibility of exploding with the all the new facets to his power.

Since I am completely engrossed in this T.V. series, it has been something that I have been contemplating. I believe that in a way I am a lot like Peter Petrelli. Just like Peter is like a sponge and absorbs peoples' powers, I absorb peoples' lifestyles and personalities. I find that whenever I am around a very liberal person, I am extremely liberal. Whenever I am around a conservative person, I am conservative. I just "soak" up other people's opinions when I am around them. Part of this has to do with my personality. I like to please people, and I want to be a peacemaker. I do not want to encounter conflict whatsoever. Even though this can be a good quality, it can be a negative quality as well...extremely negative.

Lately, God has been convicting me of not soaking up Him, but soaking up other people. I am a fickle person...my opinions are constantly changing. Christ is the solid rock. His word NEVER changes. Why do I cling and hold so dear other peoples' opinions? Why is it something that I strive for and spend hours worrying over? I need to stop taking in other peoples' views on life and be completely full of Christ. When a sponge becomes completely full of water, it starts overflowing...nothing else can get into the sponge, and the water from the sponge is leaking all over everything around it simply because it is too full. I represent a sponge. I want to be so full of Christ that NOTHING of this world can seep its way into me. I want to be so full of Christ, that Christ's love in me is overflowing from me and touching everyone around me.

Jesus, help me to soak up YOU!!!!!!