I observe that many of us (I include myself) spend considerable fruitless energy and time wanting to be something we simply aren’t. Or wanting someone else to be someone they aren’t.
Why is it so difficult to accept certain truths about ourselves and others?
We wrestle with this at multiple levels. For our place in relationship with our Creator, we should listen carefully to what He says we are. The rest of it — our ‘career,’ what we do, who we associate with, how we think about our gifts and talents, and more – becomes a battle about who we want to impress or please. I can chuckle at some goofy things teenagers do to be well-thought-of by someone else, but ‘mature’ adults do this too. The stakes for adults might even be higher.
We like the language of ‘self-made’ man or woman. Our choices shape us, but there’s a deep starting point that we don’t own. The people in our lives, beginning in utero and continuing through this very day, have a tremendous impact on us, too.
There’s a story about a scientist who figures out how to create life. He goes to God and offers a challenge. “Let’s each start with a handful of dirt. I’ll bring forth a new life and you do the same and we’ll see which is more impressive.” God accepts. The scientist reaches down and scoops up some dirt. God says, “Go get your own dirt.”
A key to understanding and embracing who we are and are meant to become is to first realize that none of this began when we arrived on the scene. We are always grounded in a great “before me” reality.
Once we get that through our thick hearts, then we wrestle with what price we’re willing to pay (and for how long) to achieve our potential. There’s always a cost. I’ve written before about our tendency to want to be the noun without doing the verb. I want to be super-fit and lean without doing the exercise and healthy eating. I want to be godly without sacrifice and humility. I want to be deeply studied in 12 minutes. No free lunch, sorry!
