Authentic. It means…
: real or genuine
: not copied or false
: true and accurate
: made to be or look just like an original
Stand out, dare to be YOU!
My goal for 2017 is to be authentic. How do I accomplish this? It requires me to start with an internal evaluation of myself and asking myself some difficult questions, such as “Am I cultivating and displaying the person I believe I am?” or “Am I too concerned with supporting others that I fail at times to promote and feed the needs of my soul?” I like things to be neat and orderly, where the pieces fall into place and forms a pretty picture. This method works mostly in the land of make-believe, movies and such. Life, as I have been told is often a bit messier and requires hard work and intentionality. I’ve been fortunate most of my life in that I have had special people come in and out of my life that have taught me many valuable lessons which I found at times easy to emulate their actions/beliefs and such. I’m being careful not to place too much judgment upon my actions, and I hope you allow yourself some grace in this manner as well. There’s a saying, ” imitation is the sincerest forms of flattery” however, it all hinges of ones perspective… this quote was made famous by Charles Caleb Colton (1780–1832) he was an English cleric, writer and collector, well-known for his eccentricities. We can choose to emulate many things done by others but in doing so are we being authentic in the process. If I feel a connection with a friend who always seems to be positive and uplifting and I want to feel the way they make me feel when I’m with them, I’d say that’s a “win-win” scenario. Let’s say there’s a person you spent time with who is always inserting their opinions in everyone’s conversations and uses foul language and makes others feel small and inferior, so they can feel superior. On the surface this could be very appealing, someone tough and has lots of people around them but followers/crowds often do not tell the whole story, followers are often there because of fear, not for friendship. We all have an internal barometer, the “gut” instinct of right and wrong inside us no matter what you call it…soul/intuition/mystical powers/God/Buddha/Allah…when we choose to listen to our inner being that is the beginning of authenticity. I have had the opportunity to meet a wide variety of individuals in my life and feel as if I’ve been given a glimpse into how others live their lives. By comparison to many I’m somewhat “sheltered” I’ve not had the pleasure of being friends with a follower of Islam, Hinduism, Taoism, Sikhism or Wiccan to name a few. I have had friends who are followers of Judaism, Christianity, Catholicism to name a few. All I’m saying is there’s more I don’t know than what I do know. With that being said, I am a Christian. I believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God and in the Holy Spirit. I have been a part of church since I was a small child, I’ve wondered away and found my way home again more than once. I want people to know the person I see when I look into a mirror. That person is broken, sinful, ashamed, flawed, proud and is made perfect through the mercy and grace of God. This is the beginning of and the unveiling of my authentic self.
“Grace is but Glory begun, and Glory is but Grace perfected.” ~Jonathan Edwards
My journey continues…stay tuned for more.
~Blessings and Peace~
“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” ~ Luke 5:32
“On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” ~Mark 2:17
“But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” ~Matthew 9:13
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” ~1 Timothy 1:15
HOPE SEEKER 
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