WORDS FROM W.W. July 12, 2016
(This week “Words from WW” is a continuing coffee conversation between W.W. and Jesus. To read Parts 1 and 2 go to “wordsfromww.com”)
“Pharisees for Jesus…you’re right! It doesn’t flow out of your mouth like Jews for Jesus.” I took a sip of my coffee that had lost its steam.
“Kind of like ‘Criminals for Christ’! The only attention it draws is not positive attention.”
“Bigots for Baptists!”
“Turn or Burn Peace Advocates!”
“Pentecostal Prostitutes! I guess there are a lot of titles for groups that it’s just as well that they don’t exist.”
“Exactly! Let me ask you a personal question.”
I hesitated even as I was saying okay.
“What name or title would people give to describe who you are, or, better yet, to describe what you’re about?”
“Wow! That’s a little deep, isn’t it?”
“You must have some idea.”
“I guess I haven’t really thought about it too much. It’s not one of those things that occupies my mental pondering.”
“Maybe not, but it’s a question that you have based most of your life on.”
“How so? If I don’t think about it how do I base my life on it?” I recognized that I asked the question with a bit of indignation in my tone.
“What I’m saying is that most of what you do and what you say arises out of the unspoken question you hold inside of you. That is, how do I want people to see me? If I want to be seen as a jerk the things I say and do spill out of that. If I want to be seen as a saint I consider my words and actions accordingly.”
“Wait a minute, Jesus! If what you’re saying is true where is there true authenticity? What is my true self if who I am is based on how I want others to see me?”
“In other words, what is at the core of your being?”
“Yes, I guess so.”
“And is your core being described with the same words that people describe you? That’s how you know whether you are living authentically or not.”
“Yes, I think that would be correct.”
“So if you don’t know who you really are it’s impossible to live authentically?”
“Well, impossible is not a word that is usually associated with you, but I’d give a qualified yes to that.” I had a sense of fear about where this conversation was going, about what I might HAVE to discover about myself.”
“So who are you when no one is looking? What do you think, what do you say to yourself, what do you hope for? Here’s another defining question! What is the longing of your soul?
“Good Lord, Jesus! You keep asking me even more questions that are hard to answer.”
“Knowing who you are happens to be a journey powered by reflection.”
“I’m…I’m a person who longs to be loved.”
“Is it hard to say those words?”
“They sound so simple, so uncomplicated, and yet…yes, it’s hard to say them.”
“Would you like to get a refill before we go any further?”
“Absolutely! I need another cup to help me move ahead.”
(TO BE CONTINUED)
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