Remember the Wizard of Oz?
It was this larger than life figure that contained all knowledge . . . it was this booming voice that when it spoke, it struck fear and reverence in all that heard! And being “off to see the wizard” was a really cool, powerful, and potentially transformational thing.
Every person has an image of him/herself in his/her mind.
For some of us, our images are quite accurate and self-awareness comes naturally.
For others, nothing is farther from the truth.
Often times we subconsciously take on the “stuff” others think and/or say to us about ourselves and we take it as truth. For better or worse, people have opinions of us and they see us in a particular light.
Some of us spend a lot of time worrying about what others think.
Others of us devote tremendous amounts of time, energy, and even money to hiding who we are so that others will have higher opinions of them.
Think back to the wizard.
When the curtain was pulled back, his reality was so very different than what he actually wanted others to see. It was a pivotal moment when his barriers around himself came crashing down.
He didn’t perceive himself with the gifts which he was created. So he created a false identity.
Yet, when others saw the truth, when he came to terms with the truth, oh man – what a beautiful experience that was. All was right in his world!
Accurate self-knowledge takes time and intentional effort.
It requires growing, exploring, and taking risks – both independently and with those in our lives who guard our hearts with and for us.
We may come pretty close to perceiving and seeing who we really are, but we will never fully see ourselves as accurately and in totality like God does.
Who are we?
We are genuine yet flawed people doing the best we can.
“For you formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.” Ps. 139:13-16
Grace and Peace,
Andrea