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The journey to find genuine people is often laden with numerous obstacles. I have come to realize that the greatest obstacle on such a journey is the one that arises because of self-deception. How helpful is it to be in pursuit of “genuine” people when one has not pursued a genuine encounter with one’s self? I have often heard people say, “I want to be surrounded by people who are real.” My spirit truly resonates with this desire, for I too long to be surrounded by people who are “real” and can “keep it real,” but how can I want to find real people and be around real people if I don’t want be honest with myself about myself. Therein lies the obstacle: The journey to find genuine people is unrealistic if we do not simultaneously begin a journey of self-discovery. Self-discovery is challenging because it requires courage to transcend the mechanisms we employ to avoid ourselves; mechanisms that have enabled us to engage in necessary avoidism. And just in case you didn’t know, the avoidism that many of us employ is necessary because we don’t always yearn to come face-to-face with ourselves.
Faith in God can supply the necessary strength for one’s search for the genuine within. I say this because most of us are fearful of what we may find when we discover our true selves, however, knowing that we are accepted and loved by God transcends the fear we may possess. In 1 John 4:18 we find these liberating words, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear……” God’s love of us and for us is our traveling companion on the journey to find our true selves. We cannot be apprehensive about what we may find because we are loved by God. We cannot be terrified about the darkness we may uncover because we are loved by God. We cannot be horrified by the thought of confronting our true selves because we are loved by God. In his book, The Courage to Be, the late theologian Paul Tillich reminded us that true courage is knowing that we are accepted by God, even when we think we are unacceptable. That is liberating! That is empowering! That is God!
Peace and Blessings,
Pastor Mike
WARRIOR
/ March 18, 2010WOW!!! OH MY GOD!I AM REALLY OPEN ON THAT PASTOR MIKE. IF WE ARE LOOKING FOR REAL PEOPLE I BELIEVE WE WOULD HAVE TO FIND OUT WHAT IS REAL. GOD IS THE ONLY PERSON I KNOW THAT IS REAL ALL THE WAY ROUND. BEING REAL WITH OURSELVES TO GOD IS A VERY PAINFUL EXPERIENCE, BUT SO NECESSARY FOR THIS WALK. I THANK GOD FOR THE BIBLE STUDY THAT WE HAD THIS TUES, IN TNT. WHAT REALNESS! THAT CAUSE MY SPIRIT TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHY THE WORD IS A DOUBLE EGDED SWORD. THERE IS A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE HAPPENING TO ME. I WILL BE PRAYING THAT THE RAW, NAKED SIDE OF WHO WE ARE TO BE WILL CONTINUE TO COME FORTH AS WE AND I HEAR THE VOICE OF THE FATHER. THE MOVE OF GOD IN MY HEART IS HELPING ME TO HEAR WHAT THE FATHER WOULD WANT OF ME. THANK YOU PASTOR MIKE FOR BEING OBEDIENT AND NOT CARING ABOUT WHAT THE NA SAYERS GOT TO SAY. IT ALL GOOOOOOOD!
KEEP DOING GOD AND LOVING GOD’S PEOPLE WITH TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Calvin
/ April 7, 2010Man oh Man, The first sentence left me saying “God knows that the truth”. The next two sentences created feelings, thoughts and accountability for myself in my quest for the same thing. I thank you Pastor for sharing your thoughts and providing sculptures in addition to other sources of reading that can support me and others in the journey of life-particularityas a child of God. I am now realizing, while accepting the very issues I have, current or surrounded with others starts with me. I thank God for being God and the members of FCBC for being a part of my spiritual process- even if they do not know.
May God continue to give you and your family the strength and blessings.