Last Year's Revelations

I've learned a lot this last year. I've written about a couple of things over on my other blog. Here's the first:

Whatever my talents, I'm an ordinary person.
There are things I'm at a loss to understand, and that's okay.
There are many good things in my life, for which it makes sense to be thankful.
There are also bad things, as there are for everyone.
God is over the good and bad. He has always been there for me and has shown he is worthy of trust.

And here's some of the second:

I've prayed that I will share myself with people, and put them first. I like it when God answers this prayer because then I'm a little more like Jesus, the relationships are a little more like they will be in heaven and I'm more myself than at any other time.

Over the last few weeks I've been learning a couple more. The third actually slots in just before the second. Here it is:

I'm to be myself. I just need to relax and be authentic, trusting that I'm okay, that things are okay between me and God and always will be. I need to stop myself being fakely cute or witty, vivacious or tomboyish or PC and just be myself, even when that is unimpressive or displeasing.

I was wondering how this is different to the secular conception of being true to yourself. I don't think that it is different - but I do think that only a Christian is really free to do it. That's my experience anyway. Being the person God made you to be requires humility, peace and trust, none of which I used to enjoy. Back then I had to look out for myself, protect myself and manage my image, all of which left little room for authenticity.

The fourth thing I've been learning jumps off the thankfulness I spoke about in 'lesson one'. It applies to me now because life's not too bad. It does not apply to people who are enduring great trials or suffering. In those times, it's enough to just get through the day in dependence on God. So, the fourth thing:

I'm to live life. Even when it's not what I would want, I still have today and I
am still a worthwhile person. I can chose to embrace the life that is given me,
leaving the future in God's hands, trusting that he will keep and bless me in
the present.

Again it strikes me that this is something a non-Christian person would agree with. And again I think the difference is that only a Christian is truely free to live this way. Thank God!