“Ranked #1 for student upward economic mobility” – that’s the banner on the main bell-tower quad at my daughter’s college. Upward Mobility is achievable, desirable and smart. In order to get this education for her, I’m not letting my own debt increase worry me – I have Upward Mentality (not upward mobility) – a mentality that is an overcoming sense of faith which rises over being overwhelmed by unknowns in the future. I’ve structured knowns best I can, the rest we trust in God. He has taken us “safe thus far”.
Upward Mentality
Credit counts also when we look at our forever, as our Lord has all the credit to take us farther, based on how He has brought us so far. Yes, our Upward Mentality is for our salvation. Yes we can salivate “forever life” because we are living on Jesus’s Credit. With Jesus, our debts of sins are erased, our mobility is restored, our “only way to look is up”. Our faith is our ultimate Upward Mentality.
I have faith and I have earthly reasoning and both tell me to keep moving, keep planning, keep keeping on. When I am gone, I expect and count blessings that my children will keep moving up too.
I stepped into the college quad yesterday because I heard the bell tower. After successfully depositing my BEST investment into school, my daughter and her dreams, I was driving thru campus soaking in the moment. I parked my car and listened to the chiming. This is not my college bell tower, but hers. This is not my dream, but hers. My bell tower and campus were in totally different times, but these chimes and this adventure of opportunities feel the same. Upward Mobility and Upward Mentality.
Bells chime so that we know that time is moving on – not slipping away. Bells chime as simply a signal that we made it to today. We are still here. We are to chime too, ring out our hopes and dreams and find opportunities. JUST like the clock and the time, we can move forward. Just like the clock face, we reset not just once but twice a day, each new day has new beginnings.
(We sometimes find ourselves doing the sad bell tolling too, having to acknowledge gloomy things around us. But we don’t have to dwell on the lows. We don’t have to stay stuck in time. Don’t dwell and don’t try to hold the arm of time from advancing.)
We don’t know what tomorrow brings, but we CAN and SHOULD bring our best to tomorrow. Don’t dilly dally, tomorrow will be here before you know it. Be upwardly mental mobile movable.
The best mountain for God to move is YOU! The best way to look is UP. The best sight to see is HOPE.
Thank You Lord, for our lives – today and forever – we can strive to make the best as you ALREADY made the best possible. The best mentality is giving credit where credit is due.
Amen
Colossians 3:23-24 ESV
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Colossians 3:17 ESV
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Matthew 11:5-6 NIV
Jesus said “the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
28-30: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
PS – a song I heard AFTER writing this is so fitting “Make a Way” by I AM THEY – about “You brought me this far, You will make a way!” SO TRUE! https://youtu.be/yiTMPWG3C4M
Debbie Upper 