Living Authentically

For a long time now I have been pondering how we live - do we let people see who we truly are or do we only let people see what we want them to see?

Who are you? Who are you meant to be?

We live our lives sometimes in a place of being someone we are not - wearing a mask, playing a part like an actor on a stage.

What part are you playing today?

If we are not careful we wear so many different masks that we can't identify ourselves any more.

If we are to live authentically and live 'real' lives surely we are meant to be who we are, mask unveiled. Surely living a life that is real - warts and all is better than acting and less exhausting?

I don't like faux, I like real but that comes at cost, when you are real that means truth and openness, letting people in, letting people see who you truly are - what if they don't like what they see? So letting people see who we truly are means letting them see us at our best and our worst, seeing our successes, our failures, sometimes our embarrassments.

Do we end up being only a proportion of ourselves because we are afraid that people will see all that we are and walk away or is it context driven? Even then - are we ever truly ourselves?

Are we authentic with God or are there parts of us that we try to keep hidden just like we do with other people? If that is the case, do we truly believe that God loves us unconditionally?

If we are not real with friends or with God are we just lying to ourselves? Also if we are trying to be more Christlike shouldn't that entail trying to live authentically?

These are just some of the things I have been pondering (not all at once obviously)!

So the challenge is:

What can we do today to live authentically for God?

In the last 2 Months: Countries Visited 2, Alcohol Units 15, Cigarettes 0, Cake consumed a few, Calories - lots , Pounds gained 0, Pounds lost 3!

Building & Maintaining Relationships

Recently I was driving to Cheadle thinking about how we make friends. I was thinking about this in the context of church and how we build relationships with the wider community.

As a youth worker whether you are based in a faith or non faith context you have a set of National Occupational Standards, a manual for operation if you like. One of these emphasises that we are to build and maintain relationships with young people. As the Youth and Ministry Placement Manager at a Theological College I encourage students and assess them on their ability to do this with both young people and adults.

I was thinking about the operation manual idea and how as a Christian I have the ultimate manual and in my manual there is an emphasis on 'making disciples of all nations' (Matthew 28:19). I don't think this can be done without building and maintaining relationships with people. Jesus himself is relational, He spent time with people, He ate with people, He told stories to explain about His Father - He made disciples.

And that brings me back to the original thought, this is how we reach the wider community!
(I should drive to Cheadle more often :-)

So if we are called to it, and Jesus did it, what are we doing about it??

Food Review:-
Lemon Muffins ****
Shortbread ***
Flapjacks ****
Sausages (not homemade) Off the scale :-)
Lasangna ****
Steak in Mushroon Sauce**

TV Review:-
Glee ***
Identity ***
Castle ****
Lie to me ****

It's That Time of Year Again.....

What's going on? I can't make sense of it,
Life goes on, like it don't mean a thing.
Yesterdays gone, tomorrows not here yet,
Caught in the abyss of today in between.

The sky is blue and everyone's lovin' it,
The sun's out and everyone's using it.
I'm in here, like it doesn't exist,
Blinds closed, shut out, not 'avin any of it.

This ones even worse than the others,
But you're not here just like the others.
I'm all cried out, well at least for this minute,
Numbness has set in, the only reprieve.

Try and keep smiling, put on your mask,
Anythings possible it might just pass.
Who am I kidding, its here to stay,
Batten down the hatches and ride the wave.

I've tried to be positive on all the other ones,
Today its not happ'nin, I'm digging in my heels.
It's not a day to celebrate, cause you're not here,
So no raising a glass or havin' a beer.

All I can do is remember the ones when you were here,
Friends round, barbecues, Magno and beers.
Parties, cakes, sangria and sun,
Smiling and laughing and having fun.

Yes the weathers nice today, I know you would have worried,
It didn't even rain today, you would have been encouraged.
I wish you could be here, I miss you very much,
Birthdays are not the same, if the guest of honours not here.

So I can't bring myself to raise a glass, I'll let Matt say the cheers.....