Note: I came across this hand-written message (written by me) last weekend while organizing some of my papers. It’s not dated, which is unusual for my writings, and was written on the back of a travel document. When I read it, I was convinced that it was confirmation of a message I had just heard that morning and of reminders that had been given to me throughout the week.
Someone once told me that my directness in sharing my truth is courageous. My response was, “I’ve learned that most people can’t handle their truth. My truthfulness has destroyed my relationships; none of the ones I’ve spoken directly in have survived my words.”
“That is why I think you’re so courageous,” she continued. “You’re living free as you are, not as other people will have you be. You’re not restricted to their view of you because you are so direct about where you are and what you need.”
Since that conversation I have thought of the many relationships that changed drastically or ended because I exposed myself in truth. Then I thought of how each of those relationships would probably still be as superficially satisfying and emotionally frustrating as ever had I held my tongue and worn the mask of false communion that so many keep in place as if their lives depend on others believing in their shallowness or trusting in their vanity. I mourned each of those relationships for a time and gave thanks for the people and the lessons they taught me.
It was never my desire to come to the end of people, but I’ve come to learn of that when we are able to see the true limitations and weaknesses of human relationships, only then are we truly open to the incomprehensible vastness of possibilities available through our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, God teaches us the true nature and purpose of relationship. When we get that understanding – the understanding of the truth of Jesus Christ – everything that burned up in our life (fell apart), when we first learned to be true to ourselves, ceases to matter. It was all chaff in the wind. See, the fire of truth purifies and refines that which is true and created to endure, but the same fire of truth destroys the falseness and imitations – whatever is rooted in the flesh – in your life.
John answered everyone, “I baptize you with water, but there is one coming who is greater than I am. I am not good enough to untie his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He will come ready to clean the grain, separating the good grain from the chaff. He will put the good part of the grain into his barn, but he will burn the chaff with a fire that cannot be put out.” And John continued to preach the Good News, saying many other things to encourage the people. ~ Luke 3:16-18
