Two Rings

I’ve gone through a series of seasons in my life of wearing different rings. Different symbols of what was important to me mixed with fascinating designs and styles. Though I am a person who likes/craves consistency, I have changed my combination of the rings I wear over the years. That is until about two years ago. Two years ago, my perspective on what I needed to be visually reminded of daily solidified and I have worn the same two rings ever since. Because I am in my first year of seminary (which is highly deconstructive and encourages a total breakdown of everything you know in order to help you establish who you really are and what you believe), I’ve been in a state of reflection and I’ve needed to fall back on my two rings and what they stand for. I decided to write these things down today in hopes that it may help others through their current season as well.

On my right ring finger, I wear my Furman class ring. I wear it as a reminder of where I come from. A reminder of a place that more fully opened my mind to who it is that God is calling me to be. A reminder of all of the lessons I learned in those four years: good, bad, ugly, and beautiful. A reminder that I know how to work hard; I know how to push through barriers to become a more educated, loving, engaged human being; I know how to honor the privileges I’ve been awarded through my work. Most importantly, I wear this ring as a reminder that I am always growing, always learning, always becoming who I was intended to be. I can look at this ring every day and be reminded of that.

On my left pointer finger, I wear a solid band with a cross etched on it. This ring is a reminder of why I am here. I need to be reminded every day of the incredible design that has gone into saving my life, which included the sacrifice on a cross and includes a call for me to honor that with every thought and action. I need to be reminded every day that the Creator of the universe chases after me, desires a relationship with me, and loves me so much. I certainly need to be reminded every single day that God works dialectically. God uses our weakness to display strength; God turns failure into beauty; God died to bring each and every one of us life. Therefore, I am reminded every day that I am taken care of, I am sought after, I am loved, and I am enough. I can look at this ring every day and be reminded of that.

So no matter your choice of jewelry or how you engage your reminders, I pray today you can be reminded of what matters. I pray you can remember where you came from and be thankful for each of those steps along the way. I pray you can rejoice in all that you are and all that you contribute to this world. I pray you can discover a way to connect to our Creator every moment of every day. And most importantly, I pray you can find hope in the small things because God gave those to us, too.