Captive/Captivated.

I was thinking about this the other day. It's strange that only three letters can change the meaning of a word. Captive and captivated: two words structurally similar but fairly polar. Captive, according to the American Heritage Dictionary, means "One, such as a prisoner of war, who is forcibly confined, subjugated, or enslaved." Yet captivated is defined as "attracted and held by charm, beauty, or excellence." I, myself, am captivated by God, but not a captive of God.

This is the first picture that came up after searching Google Images for "captive." Although I'm not aware of the situation, to see blank, perilous faces on these children is frightening.

And this is what appeared after the "captivating" search. This young girl is entranced by the beauty of this sunset. And who wouldn't be? There is a sense of peace in this scene.

I challenge everyone to think of what keeps you captive and what captivates you. Personally, I am held captive by my sins and my insecurities. I feel like that's a very common attitude, and as a son or daughter of God, it shouldn't be. The Lord captivated me with nature and music. There are an infinite amount of opinions. Know which one is yours!