Real Life

I'm writing this entry primarily to Christians, and how I wish we would all start being real, and stop being fake.

Since starting this blog a few days ago, I have been thinking about why I started it in the first place. I guess it was with the raison detre of being. . .real.

There are many closet 'real' people that I know. Ha ha.

What are you talking about Eugene? You may ask. What I'm saying is that not many people dare to be themselves. We hide away and choose a facade we want to show the world.

But I have seen many peep out at me through the cracks. And it's really wonderful when that happens.

I have found in my personal experience that when that happens -- when we reach out from our private lives and share with each other who we really are -- good things happen. Friendships deepen. Wisdom is shared. Lives are strengthened.

Over these last few months, I have had the priviledge of having conversations with 're-aquainted past aquaintences'. Somehow, in the course of our catching-up, we have found ourselves having the courage to open up, warts and all, to each other. The result has been a wonderful realization that we indeed can be real with each other, and not come out the worse for it! In fact, I have been enriched by these moments. . .because when we open up about our brokeness, we also end up talking about God's faithfulness.

I have seen God move in the most unconventional ways in my friend's lives -- lives that most religious Christians would write off as flawed.

But God dosen't see us that way. In fact, He who knows us the most, loves us the most.

So my point is this. Let's begin that journey of being honest. Both with ourselves and with each other and let's stop being. . .fake.

When was the last time you dished out a model answer to someone who was going through something? When was the last time you dished out some glib slogan thinking that was what it took to be a fervent Christian? Well, don't.

True transformation comes from a touch from the Lord. It's not something you have to make-up. In fact, when you're totally real with yourself and with God, then that's when you'll recieve the most of Him and from Him.

That's because He's a living being. Not a formula.

So stop dishing out those formulas to others. It's empty, hollow. . .and fake. Without God, being real means life is crass and ugly. But if you're born again, being real means you get to experience His touch in your brokeness.

So let's start living and giving -- Real Life.

Be yourself. Let Him love you. Then love others. It'll change your world. It's certainly changed mine.