As kids, part of learning to be polite and respectful when we are introduced to people is to shake their hand and say our name. So, we practice and we continue this for the rest of our lives. After all, its the polite thing to do. Why is it that we become accustomed to introducing ourselves with minimal information. Dress nice, come across well, leave a good impression. No wonder we're tired and worn. Consider this question for a moment, really ponder it. Who in your life really knows you? The good, the bad and the ugly? Who accepts you for you. Who does not pass judgement but believes in something greater for you? An even tougher question, do you know who you are? If we were to walk around with labels on our foreheads...I know it would never happen...entertain me for a bit. What would your label say? What would people be the most surprised to read? What would be the hardest for you to write about yourself? The truth is, if we were that transparent, I'm not sure our society could handle it. Yet, we are supposedly a Christian culture that loves unconditionally? We judge all the time. What's worse, we judge ourselves all the time. What are we measuring ourselves against anyway? We all have a past, there are things we've done we'd love to forget, put out of our heads, never discuss. But, how do you know that very thing isn't the part of your story someone needs to hear to know they're not alone. How do you know that isn't the story that helps them make a decision to live a different life? How do you know that isn't the story they need to hear to save their life? At the risk of being completely transparent on this amazing entity we call the world wide web, my label would say: judging, loving, liar, truth teller, antagonist, loves justice, hypocrite, struggling to walk the right path, fearful, fierce, vulnerable, resentful, jealous, insecure and not who most think I am. I am a mix of emotion, I don't always act on the right one. I can be reactive instead of understanding. I can let my fears get the best of me and be the biggest idiot there is. I can be really good at blaming others when I contributed heavily to the problem. Why can't we be this honest? I just did. Wouldn't it be better if we could share all these things and then hold each other accountable for working toward being purer? You see, even though we all have a past, we also all have a future. We get to choose if we want to continue with the version of ourselves that most people like or the purest version of ourselves that we are evolving into. We can't be afraid to tell the dark parts of our story. But rather, we have to allow those stories to be told being filtered through the light of Jesus. Who knows, someone might just be liberated from their own personal prison because you were willing to talk about your time in yours. Don't be afraid of what people will think, wouldn't you rather be who you are then who they want you to be? I'm reminded of the biblical story about the prostitute that was about to be stoned. Jesus tells them if anyone of you has not committed a sin, throw the first stone. We must make room for each other, we must make room for ourselves. God gave us each a story. Let's make sure we're not walking around with stones in our pockets instead of words of understanding and forgiveness in our hearts.
"They triumphed over him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death."
Rev. 12:11
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