Crying out to God through prayer and song has a rich biblical history.

Ask God today if you need to slow down for a minute, change your pace, or shift gears. Ask him what he wants just for you. And then boldly, confidently run with endurance your race at his pace.

Today, we are going to pray through a prayer to find belonging when you’re feeling alone. First and foremost, I want to share that belonging is only truly found in our identity in Christ. He gives us a true sense of security in Him. He created us, He knows us, and He has set us free.

Earlier this summer, we took our kids to the beautiful, rocky bluffs and tide pools of Laguna Beach—one of our favorite local beach spots. While we helped our kids look for crabs, sea anemones, and other critters, I noticed something about the majority of people around us. Almost everyone was doing a photo shoot with either a professional photographer or an “Instagram boyfriend”: Maternity and engagement shoots. High school graduation shoots. First baby shoots. Casual poses (with outfit changes) on sand, surf, and rock, all bathed in that golden-hour glow. Perhaps with an Instagram caption already in mind. I’m not knocking the practice of memorializing life’s milestones in beautiful settings. Nor am I saying it’s bad to desire to publicly share your appreciation for some segment of God’s beautiful world. I often do both. At the Laguna Beach tide pools, I took out my phone as well, snapping photos and posting a few. Still, the scene struck me as sad. Here we were, in a truly breathtaking place, and most of us spent less time observing the beauty around us than posing for photographs within it, or pulling out our phones to visually document it. The promise of “being seen” in this place prevailed over the desire to be present there. The promise of ‘being seen’ in this place prevailed over the desire to be present there. But when we’re not present in life, our ability to see atrophies. The full force of reality dulls and the brightness of beauty dims, demoted as they are to background players in the central drama of our own small, performative lives. When seeing reality tangibly becomes less compelling to us than being seen virtually, we lose perspective and, ultimately, purpose. “Being seen” is a nice experience but supremely unsatisfying as a primary goal in life. We aren’t the most interesting, beautiful, or inspiring part of this world. More satisfying than being seen is seeing rightly: encountering the goodness, truth, and beauty of God’s world and knowing him more as a result. Faux Transcendence of ‘Being Seen’ Internet connectivity and social media have accelerated the temptation toward “being seen.” On YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and the rest, options are limitless for how we can draw attention to ourselves: political ranting, product reviewing, posing, opining, dancing, and lip-synching. But our contemporary cultural obsession with being seen wasn’t birthed in the social media age. Its current technological expression is an outgrowth of a spiritual transformation with a centuries-long genealogy, one in which man gradually replaced God as the measure of all things and the “self” asserting its godlike qualities gradually replaced communal worship of a transcendent God. For more on this, I recommend Tara Isabella Burton’s Self-Made or Carl Trueman’s The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self. However we got here, the reality is that this “inward turn,” this ascendant individualism, this “look at me!” world has provided a deeply unsatisfying faux transcendence. Mounting evidence suggests the more we orient life around being seen, the more miserable we are (see Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation or Jean Twenge’s iGen). Among other things, the “look at me” world of posturing, performance, and promotion isolates us from one another and exacerbates loneliness. “Being connected is not the same thing as being united,” Byung-Chul Han observes in The Crisis of Narration. He continues, “Stories” on social media, which are in fact mere self-promotion, separate people from each other. Unlike narratives, they produce neither closeness nor empathy. . . . The stories do not narrate; they advertise. Vying for attention does not create community. But relational poverty is just one of the poverties we experience in a “being seen” world. There are others: We’re spiritually impoverished: the self is a always a disappointing object of worship. We’re epistemologically impoverished: man isn’t a reliable “measure of all things”—not even most things. We’re aesthetically impoverished: the self, however lovely, is but one meager droplet in the ocean of beauty that exists in the universe. So while the dopamine spikes that stem from being seen (likes, views, validation, affirmation, representation, and so on) offer temporary pings of pleasure that briefly fill our spiritual vacuum, they leave us empty in the long term. See Beyond the Self Christianity calls us to look beyond the self and focus our gaze instead on the source of true happiness and purpose: Christ and his kingdom. In doing this, we see reality as it is, not as what partisan narratives or personal agendas want it to be. This is the only type of seeing that truly satisfies, but we’re losing our capacity to see in this way. Mounting evidence suggests the more we orient life around being seen, the more miserable we are. “Man’s ability to see is in decline,” observed German Catholic philosopher Josef Pieper in 1990. And by seeing, he meant “the spiritual capacity to perceive the visible reality as it truly is.” Our degraded capacity to see is caused, Pieper argued, by the fact that “there is too much to see.” Visual noise impairs our vision, but so does an excessive amount of mirrors. We’re not only blinded by a too-expansive field of vision; we’re blinded by the tunnel vision of looking too intently at ourselves. Overstimulation and narcissism both keep us from seeing rightly. How can we regain true, life-giving sight? How can we develop a stronger hunger to see the beauty of God’s creation more than to have others see us seeing the beauty? How can we rediscover a curious, enchanted, awestruck, and worshipful way of looking at the world—a beholding of God’s glory that not only arrests us but transforms us (2 Cor. 3:18)? It starts by creating space in the glut to actually look, and listen, carefully. Stop scrolling, stop posting, and be still long enough to truly take in reality. This requires seeking out unmediated space and silence, which is the last thing Silicon Valley wants us to prioritize. Resist the urge to grab your phone at every moment to mediate your experience of life. Just experience life. Instead of posting a commentary about something you heard, saw, or encountered. Just think about what you heard, saw, or encountered. Silence, more often than frantic expression, is the pathway to illumination. Gilles Deleuze says it well: It’s not a problem of getting people to express themselves but of providing little gaps of solitude and silence in which they might eventually find something to say. Repressive forces don’t stop people expressing themselves but rather force them to express themselves. What a relief to have nothing to say, the right to say nothing, because only then is there a chance of framing the rare, and ever rarer, thing that might be worth saying. We need to discover the gift of silence (rather than constant expression) and the gift of hiddenness and obscurity (rather than publicizing all aspects of life). When we start to live in unseen ways, without constant effort to act, perform, and compete for eyeballs and attention, our appetite to see rather than be seen naturally grows. Further, our intimacy with Christ tends to grow as our need to be seen by others diminishes (see John Starke’s The Secret Place of Thunder). Resist Social Media Technopoly Am I arguing we should never share vacation photos or pose for selfies in beautiful locations? No. I’m simply suggesting a more fulfilling and God-honoring way to live is to prioritize seeing above being seen, knowing the holy God above being known by the fickle masses. Prioritize knowing the holy God above being known by the fickle masses. Practically—and I’m preaching to myself here—this looks like resisting most urges to post instant stories about every beautiful nature scene I encounter; it means refraining from sounding off on social media every time a hot-take opinion enters my head. It means going more places, reading more books, and having more “off the record” conversations: unpublished, unperformed, simply experienced in the sacred community of those with me in person or those (e.g., close family who live far away) with whom I decide to share the experience though a texted photo, FaceTime, or—dare I say it—snail mail. As Christians, we should model a resistance to a social media technopoly that directly benefits from our addiction to being seen by “audiences” of scrolling masses. Instead, we should model reverence before God that looks like authentic attention and eager interest in his world, which reveals his glory (Ps. 19:1). We should be the people so engrossed in the beauty of a sunset, a waterfall, or a coastal tide pool that we forget to take a picture of it, or at least take a picture as a way to remember the experience of seeing this beauty in a real time and place. This will not only point our neighbors to a better way to live but will increase our own wisdom and worship as creatures captivated by the Creator’s glory.

It was a rough night of sleep. I tossed and turned, watching the glaring red minutes turn into hours. I had planned to go to an 8:00 a.m. class at the gym, but all I really wanted to do after I got the kids out the door was crawl back into bed. The warmth of the sun flooded into the room and invited me to cozy up with my cup of tea. Yet I knew that even though the rest felt good at the moment, eventually I would become more tired and sluggish if I didn’t get up and move my body. It’s a struggle that happens nearly every day of my life. Navigating fitness and health feels like a great pendulum swing that can take me from counting the calories in every bite to enjoying a few too many chocolate chip cookies. From caring too much about what the numbers say on the scale to finding it all too easy to throw the workout routine out the window. Maybe you can relate—the demands of this fast-paced world often prod us to try to do more and more, all while looking good and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Even when we remember that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19–20) and start out with a good desire to steward our bodies well, the push of our western culture to look our best for the sake of vanity can send us spiraling into obsessive workouts, diets, and expensive beauty rituals. Or on the other side, we might lose sight of the fact that we are fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God (Ps. 139:14) and think our bodies are not worth caring for diligently. We often approach fitness and health from two extremes: apathy or obsession with our bodies. But the gospel of Christ frees us from either extreme and helps us focus our eyes on eternity instead of our waistlines. Understand the Extremes If we struggle with apathy we might find ourselves feeling defeated when it comes to health and fitness. We can’t keep up with all the latest nutritional trends, workout routines, and beauty products, so why even try? Maybe behind these feelings is a sneaky voice whispering that you don’t really matter, that nothing ever will change in your life so it’s not worth the effort. The feeling of defeat causes us to quit before we even start. The gospel helps us focus our eyes on eternity instead of our waistlines. Another cause of bodily apathy could be pouring yourself out to meet the needs of others while forgetting to take care of yourself. Consider a pastor who is burning the candle at both ends—meeting church members who are in crises, working on his sermon late into the night, and leading church meetings, all while getting insufficient sleep and little to no exercise. The Bible does exhort us to put others’ needs ahead of our own (Phil. 2:3–4). But when we do that to the detriment of our health, we’ve lost sight of the fact that our body is a gift from God that we’re responsible to steward well. We need to care for our bodies both for our own well-being and to enable us to serve with strength and stamina. On the other end of the pendulum are those of us who struggle with obsession over our bodies. Maybe we have a good end goal, to glorify God with our physical health. But the pathway to get there has become consumed with self-preoccupation. We can’t enjoy the church potluck because we’re worrying about the fat or sugar content of the dishes. We allow ourselves to indulge in a dessert, but we’re immediately planning how to burn off the calories. It’s hard to walk by a mirror without evaluating our shape and size, wondering what others think of us. And an interruption to our workout leaves us feeling angry and frustrated. The body has become too important, with a view to serving self instead of others. Assign Proper Value So what’s the solution? How do we aim to live a life that’s neither apathetic nor obsessive with our bodies? 1 Timothy 4:7–8 sheds some light on this. “Train yourself for godliness,” Paul writes, “for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” Paul helps us re-evaluate our priorities. It’s not that physical exercise is unimportant. After all, bodily training is of some value. He sees that our physical bodies matter. In an earlier chapter Paul tells us that he disciplines his body for godliness (1 Cor. 9:27). He doesn’t want to be ruled by the desires of the flesh that can so easily lead us into laziness or apathy. There’s value to having a strong and able body—a body that can carry groceries for an elderly neighbor, balance a baby on a hip, and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation while hiking with family members or friends. But our physical training is not paramount. There are wonderful blessings that can come from physical training, for ourselves and others. But fitness and nutrition are not ends in themselves. If they rise to the place of master in our lives, we’ve lost sight of what’s most important. Instead, we’re to focus the majority of our efforts on training ourselves for godliness. Meditating on and memorizing the truths of Scripture as we prepare our souls for eternity. Loving our neighbor as ourselves as we look to meet both physical and spiritual needs around us. Train for Eternity Our spiritual training should not take second place to our physical training. After all, our bodies on this earth will not last. No matter how much training we’ve done, no matter how many youth-enhancing procedures we’ve had, our bodies will weaken and fail. But our spiritual life impacts both the present day and the age to come. As Isaiah reminds us:“ The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever” (Isa. 40:8). Our spiritual training should not take second place to our physical training. So lace up those shoes and head outside for a brisk walk. Train your body, but not to flaunt your good looks. Rather, train your body in order to showcase the love of Christ while you serve others. Train your body in order to enjoy God’s gifts of health and recreation. Caring for your physical self is worth so much more than a smaller waistline. It’s a means to delight yourself in the only One who truly satisfies. When Christ is our treasure, we’re free to value our bodies as gifts to both enjoy and steward for his glory.

The post Blue Sphynx Cat: Pictures, History, Facts & More by Catster Editorial Team appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com. Click to Skip Ahead Characteristics History Popularity Formal Recognition Fun Facts Do They Make a Good Pet? You can’t help but notice the Sphynx Cat. They are so different from what we may usually think about how these animals should look. While they appear hairless, they’re not. Their coats are more like a short and soft down. The breed standard allows all colors and patterns. Hence, we have the blue Sphynx Cat. This cat may be a solid color or other variations like tortoiseshell or tabby. Let’s learn a bit more about them down below. Breed Overview Height:6–9 inches Weight:7–14 pounds Lifespan:10–15 years Colors:Blue, cream, brown, black, white, gray Suitable for:Active families looking for a low-shedding cat Temperament:Loving, intelligent, affectionate, outgoing Other noticeable traits include the cat’s large ears and lemon-shaped eyes. Their skin has a wrinkled appearance, which makes them seem even more exotic. The breed is relatively new compared to others, such as the ancient Egyptian Mau. The blue Sphynx is an outgoing and vocal animal, and this kitty will thrive in an active household. Blue Sphynx Cat Characteristics The Earliest Records of the Blue Sphynx Cat in History Accounts of hairless cats have existed since the early 1800s. However, these weren’t the cats that we now know as the blue Sphynx. The breed’s history begins later in the 1960s in Ontario, Canada. A genetic mutation resulted in a hairless feline. Early enthusiasts soon discovered the inheritance pattern. Domestic cats have 38 chromosomes, one of which is the sex pair. The others determine different features of the animal. Each parent contributes one copy or allele to each gene. If the trait is dominant, only one of the two causes the characteristic to be present in the offspring. The shorthand is AA for two dominant alleles and Aa for one dominant and the other recessive. For a recessive trait to manifest, each parent must contribute the “a” version of the gene, making it aa. Hairlessness is an aa characteristic. Mendelian genetics tells us that 25% of the offspring would be AA. Another 50% would be Aa, with aa making up the last 25%. Since it’s dominant, 75% of the young would have hair. Only 25% of the kittens would be hairless. That’s the bottleneck that affected the proliferation of the blue Sphynx. Enthusiasts bred the hairless cats with other ones, including the Devon Rex. This breed has the dominant version of the hairless trait, and it took several generations to develop the Sphynx. Infertility is a problem that can occur with hairlessness, further complicating the breed’s start. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kai (@kai_sphynx1) How the Blue Sphynx Cat Gained Popularity Cats differ from dogs by the many jobs the latter filled. Canines served functional roles at first before selective breeding, which led to diversification in the work the animals did and the conformation of desirable standards. You can probably guess the Sphynx became a sensation even in the days before social media and viral videos. The development of the breed was a joint effort between North American and European breeders. The goal was to build a diverse gene pool to reduce the chances of harmful hereditary and congenital conditions passing on to subsequent generations. That was imperative to earn formal recognition and to propel the popularity of the breed. Formal Recognition of the Blue Sphynx Cat The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) and Fédération Internationale Féline (FIFe) formally recognized this breed in 2002. The International Cat Association (TICA) recognition came later in 2005. Formal recognition meant the creation of standards for the breed to give judges a framework for evaluating the cats in the show ring. The CFA faults cats that can’t be handled or have hair. The FIFe has specific color groups. TICA disqualifies aggressive animals and those that are too small. The Sphynx is a sleek yet muscular animal. The cat is also known for their engaging personality, which is written into the breed standard of all organizations. Image Credit: Tomas Salac, Shutterstock Top 3 Unique Facts About the Blue Sphynx Cat 1. The Blue Sphynx Cat Is Not Egyptian Although the animals look like their namesake, the original breeding stock is from Canada and Minnesota. 2. The Sphynx Is the CFA 10th Most Popular Breed Pet owners have fallen head over heels in love with the Sphynx. This honor isn’t a surprise to those who know this kitty. 3. Research Has Shown the Blue Sphynx Prefers the Company of People to Other Cats Personality has a genetic factor. Researchers found that the Sphynx wasn’t particularly sociable with other cats. Instead, they prefer to be with people. It’s one of the most endearing traits. Image Credit: Alla_Che, Shutterstock Does the Blue Sphynx Cat Make a Good Pet? The blue Sphynx is the epitome of a people-oriented cat. They love attention and will make an excellent choice for an individual or family who wants their kitty to be part of the household. We don’t recommend this breed for anyone who can’t give them the interaction they need. That’s true of any intelligent cat. They must have mental stimulation and enrichment for their well-being. The other consideration involves the Sphynx’s health. The animal has a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, you should only get a pet from a seller who conducts the recommended pre-breeding screening of their stock. DNA testing is available for some conditions. You must also monitor your pet’s heart health since problems can develop later in life. The blue Sphnyx is a playful and energetic feline. This kitty will welcome visitors, but they may also get into trouble if they’re bored. These animals are a commitment on several fronts. Understanding your responsibility is imperative with this cat or any pet. Conclusion The blue Sphnyx is a striking animal with a larger-than-life personality. These cats love people and want to be a part of the action. Pet owners must understand that this cat breaks the mold for what you may think of these felines. They are curious and intelligent, making mental stimulation vital for their overall well-being, but you will have a very fulfilling relationship with your kitty if you can provide it. Sources https://acfacat.com/Breed%20Standards/SPHYNX.pdf https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/basics/patterns https://acfacat.com/Breed%20Standards/SPHYNX.pdf https://fifeweb.org/app/uploads/2023/10/SPH.pdf https://tica.org/phocadownload/sx.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20130226130801/http://beeblebroxsphynx.com/health/about-the-breed/history https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/drumroll-please-the-cat-fanciers-association-cfa-is-elated-to-reveal-the-top-15-pedigreed-cat-breeds-that-had-everyone-purring-in-2023-302063129.html https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/7/1991 https://www.aspcapetinsurance.com/resources/sphynx-cat-breed-information/#:~:text=It’s%20also%20important%20to%20know,valve%20dysplasia%20and%20heterotrophic%20cardiomyopathy. Featured Image Credit: Joanna Zaleska, Shutterstock The post Blue Sphynx Cat: Pictures, History, Facts & More by Catster Editorial Team appeared first on Catster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Catster.com.