Embodying God's Presence Part 2

 

Yesterday, we held two twin truths together ~ one ~ you long to be who God made you to be and who you are becoming.  And ~ two ~ you long to belong to a community where you can show up as yourself.  When these two are in harmony, our lives feel full.  But, when there is tension between these two, it causes our hearts to ache and souls to break and we want to resolve that tension as quickly as possible.  This tension is part of life from the beginning, many of us pick up in childhood that it isn’t okay to show up as we authentically are.  We are told by our parents that, “Boys don’t cry” or “Girls aren’t as good at math.”  Neither of which are true. We are told by our teachers if we are good at a subject. We are told by our friends whether our clothing is stylish enough. We are told by our church whether our faith is strong or orderly. We are told by the voices around us that if we use this new brand of toothpaste all the world will fall at our feet.

Even when I say in a morning meditation that you, as you are right now, are crafted and loved into being in God’s image, I get that those words barely may cut through the words you heard in the past and the noise of the present.  When so many point out what is imperfect and incorrect in us, we long to belong.

On top of this, we are hyperaware that we may get kicked out of the tribe.  If we don’t nod our head or vote in a certain way or show up or say the right words we may just be put out the curb.  There is still our ancestral DNA where when you got booted from the tribe that met you might be lunch for a lion in the bush over there.

We return to the question; how can we be our unique self and connect communally to others?

Today, I invite you to take time to notice and name moments when you felt you had let go of a part of you so that you could fit in.  To use Paul’s words from chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians ~ when has your hand said to your eye, “You are no longer need.”  This is metaphorical language here.  When have you said, “I will just go along to get along.”  Or I won’t say anything because I don’t want to rock the boat.  Let be clear that this could be in our families, church, or community.  Hold these words for the truth they continue to show us in such a time as this.

Prayer: God, You craft me in Your image.  Yet, sometimes there is so much about me and we I want to change.  Help me live the truth that I am accepted and affirmed with Your affection and so is that person I will see when I go to the store today. Amen.