I went to Barnes and Noble the other day in search of books I needed for upcoming bible studies. I got there early and had to wait for the doors to open. I noticed I wasn’t the only one waiting, and felt like I was now part of the ‘I can’t wait for the bookstore to open’ club. It’s nice to see that people still like shopping at the store, instead of online. I love roaming the aisles and touching the books. I love the feel of having a book in my hand and bending down the corner of the pages. I worry that someday there won’t be any more bookstores, or libraries. That it will all be digital. That would be a very sad day for us visual folks.

What’s funny, is that I’m not a big reader. Or so I say. But, thanks to another new Facebook profile update, I decided to catalog the books I’ve read over the past couple years. I have them all shelved above my desk. There are a lot of them, so I guess I really DO read. The thing is, they are all non-fiction. You won’t find ‘Fifty Shades’ or whatever else is out there that EVERYONE is reading. They are all Christian and Nutrition titles. I guess these are my passions. I love to learn and I’ve been so fortunate to be led to so many great authors. And I guess that’s why I love to write about faith and nutrition. I guess my life’s passions and callings aren’t that mysterious, as I once thought they were.

Having been to B&N before for Christian books, I knew right where to go. However, it still usually takes me awhile to find the right aisle. ‘Fantasy’, ‘Horror’, ‘History’, ‘Sci-Fi’; I pass all of these aisles on my way to the ‘Christianity’ shelf. And I say shelf, because that’s about what it is. It’s not its own aisle. But one bookcase (maybe two), front and back. And they have only one of each title, so don’t plan on getting multiple copies of anything, even a Bible.

On this particular day, a title from an adjacent shelf caught my eye. The text was bold and big on a white cover. And it contained one of my favorite go-to descriptive words for people who are mean. I chuckled, and then took a picture of it. But when I looked at the photo, I realized how close this book was to the shelf of Bibles. And I looked up at the section, and saw that it was ‘Philosophy’. And, for that moment, I felt that deep pain I get when I think about how hard it is to follow God in a world that constantly creates its own ideas of how to be happy.

Being a Christ follower is hard. I mean REALLY hard. Because, for me, it means leaving my old life behind. The one that was so comfortable. Even if that comfort was really just misery. Do you know what I mean? We stay in our current circumstance so often because it’s familiar. Doesn’t matter if it’s destructive to our soul. It’s what we know and we don’t like change. Change is hard. Change hurts. And transforming your life through Christ is painful.

I live in the world. The world has some really awesome stuff in it. But is also has a lot of grossness. And the world promises happiness that is only temporary. And it’s through stuff, mostly. I like stuff. And stuff is okay, but basing my happiness on it is not. So, for that moment, those shelves illustrated how I feel as a Christ follower. I’m back in the corner, sandwiched between ‘Philosophy’ and ‘Sci-Fi’. And, because they are so close, I really could choose to believe what they have to show me at any time. I am constantly surrounded by worldly views. And even though I’m comfortable following God, there certainly isn’t a lot of support in the world to keep me there.

You see, God isn’t just another theory about how to be happy in life. God is real and God is Truth. The Bible is historical fact (did you know that?), but it’s not in the History section. I really don’t like that He is sandwiched on the shelves between theories and other make-believe ideas. But, that is my reality. That is OUR reality, as Christ followers. Even though many consider Christianity a ‘religion’ and just another ‘idea’, we hold on to our faith in the Truth that we know. In the Truth that we live and experience. If you are looking for a book about joy and peace in life, look past the worldly ideas and look to God. He is waiting for you. He loves you. And He has the answers.

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:5