how does He get our attention

i think God wants to get our attention so many more times than we want to see it. and then it takes something really obvious, something blatant for us to get it. and its never out of anger, but instead i think it comes from a deep longing that He has for us to live in way that causes those around us the least amount of harm. and the way that causes us the least amount of harm.

i mean, thats the purpose of the ten commandments right? it wasn't about a God who was down on fun, it was about a God who wanted to protect his creation from themselves and the hurt that comes from making wrong choices and living in a way that doesn't show Christ to others.

so when God gets our attention, well, we would do good to follow his guiding. not so it pleases Him, but because He has our best intentions in mind. He doesn't want us to live in such a way that brings hurt to others and to ourselves.

but what about the times that it does? what about the times when how others live deeply affects us in a way that it cuts so deep? i don't think that its God's plan. i don't think thats how He intended for things to be, but thats the beauty of free will. we are given this life. one life. we get one go-around with no do-overs, no reset buttons, nothing like that. so i'm learning that it would do us well to follow those promptings to change.

because if its not the small promptings we follow, there will be bigger ones. and more painful ones, both in the revealing and the healing. i pray that we follow the small leadings.

be good to each other. look at Christ. peace.