Sometimes we think that celebrities, actors, and rock stars have it all. The truth is, even they have nothing in their lives unless they have Him in their lives. Several months ago in Reflections, we profiled a recent convert to the Orthodox Faith who also happens to be an incredible musician and full-fledged rock-star: Chris Cornell, formerly of Soundgarden and Audioslave.

He's an awesome musician with a fantastic career, and he's also a man of faith. This is a powerful statement. His music is equally powerful (this guy is a true poet and a serious thinker) and one of my all-time-favorite Soundgarden songs is "My Wave," from the album Superunknown. The song is a hard-driving, heavy and invigorating tune, where Chris uses the image of his own personal "wave" to be his momentum in life: his spirituality, his attitude, his relationships, his world. And the warning to those who might interfere is forceful: "Hate, if you want to hate, if it keeps you safe, if it makes you brave. Don't come over here … Save it. Just keep it off my wave." In the end, there is negativity, damaging forces—even people—that can creep into our lives and wreak havoc. There are things that distract and derail us, so we've got to be protective of what's dear and precious.

We cannot be hostages to hate, anger, fear, or any purveyors of such.

On the other hand, you and I are challenged by Christ to be loving, open and forgiving. As Christians, we need to give people—and ourselves—second, third, fourth and even more chances. We believe in transformation, forgiveness, endless hope, change, personal epiphanies. We must be risk-takers to the end, just like our Lord. We are believers in God and all that He made.

But we also must safe-guard our spiritual lives. In fact, in order to be loving, forgiving and risk-taking, we need a safe place deep inside; we need to maintain our "isihia," the peace of God within us. It doesn't meant that we're not open and that we think we're better than anyone else, only that we know, very deeply, that our hearts must stay focused on Christ, that we must constantly guard against distraction. In a sense, we must feed ourselves before we are capable of feeding others. If we are destroyed inside, our neighbors will not see Christ in our eyes or in our works.

This is a balancing act and it will mean something different to everyone. Maybe this means it's time to take better care of the important relationships in your life. Maybe this means less of that mind-numbing t.v. for you. Maybe it means you need to put more effort into conversations, steering them from a negative to positive direction. Maybe, on the same level, it means you need to choose your conversations wisely, and take yourself out of conversations that are not uplifting. Maybe it means you need to make more time for Church than your friends might—and this can be awkward and challenging. Maybe it means it's finally time to release that old grudge you've been nursing—maybe it means you're ready to take charge of, and responsibility for, your own happiness. Maybe it means you're not comfortable with some of your habits, that you're determined to change them, and you're challenging those in your life to give you room to change.

Again, this will mean something different to everyone. Only you, and God, know your secret heart and innermost needs.

In the end, your personal spirituality, your commitment to Christ, your hopeful attitude is a powerful wave—driven on by our Lord. It's not to be tampered with. It must be respected. It must be guarded, for your own good and ultimately for the good of those in your life. And you're responsible for it.

Take a note from Chris, and sing it loud and sing it clear if someone tampers with your journey toward the Kingdom: "KEEP IT OFF MY WAVE!"