it is a rare thing in this world that does not accurately reflect the effort that has been put into it.
a beautiful garden has been carefully tended, many hours, sweat, dirt, and worn hands have created this miracle. an athletes toned muscles, a body molded by self-discipline and long hours of exercise. a driven professional, excelling in their career, dedication... continually striving for the best.
perception is reality. and reality is perception.
when does what you wish become who you are? and when does what you see in the mirror stop reflecting what you thought you were?
i am no fool (well, at least not for the most part :)), i realize that we are all changing, morphing, hopefully into something better, into something that He has made us to be. but what happens when you are faced with the reality of the perceptions of others, and it's not who you want to be?
the most accurate mirror you can look into are the eyes of another. don't get me wrong, we all have our little biases, everyone has their "splinter" or "log" if you will, but i don't think that should become an excuse, instead it should be a point of self-examination.
as a christian, a follower of God, we can never live about the perceptions of others. get me straight here, don't misunderstand, we are not called to live up to what others believe we should be, or pulled into the depths by one or two unpleasant comments regarding who we are and why. but we are meant to be accountable. we don't get the freedom to act how we want and expect that this will always be covered by the grace of God.
i believe that we must continually strive to be closer to the One who will make us more like Him. this does not mean that we are perfect, far from it, but it does not grant us a free ticket (do not pass go, do not collect $200). why? because we have to live a life full of trying and failing? no. no really, i mean it. NO. yes, i do love the caps button :) NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! we cannot and should not strive for anything close to perfection. i got news for ya, i'm no youngsta, and i'm not ancient quite yet, but i do know this, my path to being a "good person" will lead me no where. and if it did, i certainly wouldn't have faith in an omniscient and all-powerful God, instead that would instill a faith in myself. if i just try harder, do better, use more self-discipline, then i could be who i want to be.
ha! as if... (i.e. i've tried...)
instead, my desire to love Him more, and the action of trying to love Him more, well, in that (and even if i suck at this, which is a very common occurrence!), He extends the grace and love i need, He makes me more like Him. and really, what else is there? is there something more important than that in this life?
so, back to it. perception is reality. maybe not always, but do i get to stand aside and just christia-nese my thoughtless actions with some sort of "well, i'm just struggling right now..." excuse? i don't think that's right either. we strive to embody something better not because we have to, or because we're supposed to, but because we love Him so deeply that we do not want to do any harm to His name. we could not bear to do Him any injustice. it would hurt our hearts to drag His name and reputation through the dirt.
will we screw up? yes. will we struggle? yes. will we do harm when we should have done good? YES.
but i believe that He can "make all things beautiful", and while i hope to never use this as an excuse, a symbolic shield, i can rest in faith that when i do suck, that He is bigger than that. and if i didn't think He was...? well, that wouldn't be much of a God to believe in, would it?
a beautiful place to rest, but never for too long...
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