Chapter 1: Symbolic Stweardship

Today I began reading the first textbook for the class, Communicating for Life and I am really pleased. This is because this books read more like a book, and less like traditional textbooks. The introduction about the WWII scenario made me want to keep reading (partly because it was well written, but mostly because I love learning about WWII).

Regardless, I made my way through the first chapter in the book, titled "Symbolic Stewardship." As I read through it, and read Schultze's ideas, it made me think of a few personal experiences that I have dealt with.

On page 18 and 19, Schultze talks about the idea of Christ being the center of our communication. This made me think of a couple times where, in my own life, this idea has been a major factor. Yes, I strongly believe that Christ should be at the center of everything we do, but more specifically our communication.

Being married has been amazing. I love my husband, and we have so much fun together. We were blessed with a relationship where my husband and I get along 99.9% of the time perfectly. However there are times where we disagree or don't see eye-to-eye on specific things.

We have found, and have discussed our findings, that when we focus Christ to the center of our relationship, everything else in our relationship falls perfectly into place. For example, one night David and I disagreed over something, and we realized, we had not been into the Word as much as we could have been.

When we refocused our time and priorities, we disagreed less, and were our happy "perfect" selves again.

It's amazing how Christ works. He brings David and me together when we disagree to realize we had not had Him as the priority.

Schultze's comments regarding communication and Christ made me reflect on moments in my own life where this bond (between communication and Christ) is so important.

How cool!

Also, Schultze's ideas regarding us, and the things around us, as symbols is really a fascinating thought (page 21). I know that we should strive to be in God's image, but I never thought of myself as being a symbol of Christ. I want people to look at me and see Christ shine through me. I never considered that people could look at me and potentially "see" something else. That makes me want to live life even more Christ-like. I don't want people to see the wrong symbol when they look at me. I only want to be associated with positive symbols.

(Schultze used the example of pornography being symbolized in so many ways to different types of people).

I want to be a light. I want to be a good, Christian symbol.

What symbol do you think people see when they look at you?

This chapter really made me think, and I am really looking forward to continuing this book.