Jan
9
2015
Be Yourself
Posted in Daily Living 4 Comments
It was a game I used to play as a girl.
I would link arms and try to walk in step with another person.
We might begin just fine.
Our steps would be in sync with each other.
But then all of a sudden, our steps are off.
Our steps do not match.
We would try to quickly get back in the rhythm of the other person’s gait.
By this time we were laughing so hard it was next to impossible.
If you see a marching band, you see precision of movement.
If one band member is out of step, it is noticed by the crowd in the stands.
If one baton is thrown in the air a bit later than the rest, it is seen.
If one person goes in the other direction, it would be obvious.
Sometimes, we need to be in step with everyone else.
It is perfectly fine to be different, yet we think we need to be the same.
In a culture of conformity, it is the rare person who has the courage to be different.
It is the rare person who has the strength to be an individual.
My youngest daughter and I had a nice long lunch on a day of errands.
We sat, and talked, and delightfully lingered.
We enjoy each others company.
We value each others thoughts and ideas.
I listened to her and realized how very difficult it must be for young people.
Young people who are surrounded by social media.
Young people who are readily accessible yet often lonely.
Young people whose lives are on constant display.
From the things they eat to the places they have been, they document everything.
Minutia is reported but is highly unnecessary.
The best of themselves is posted for the world to see.
The pain, and the sadness, and the struggles are hiding behind their smiling selfies.
We talked about how that makes other young people feel.
How many feel like they live in a constant state of comparison.
How many feel that they do no measure up.
Superficiality replaces meaningful conversations and friendships.
It is the best of me on display.
It is the worst of me that no one knows about or even sees.
It is self-marketing.
It is skewed self-promotion.
Especially for the Christian young person, there is a disconnect.
There is the spiritual-izing of everything.
There is the appropriate Bible verse tacked on to the ordinary picture.
There is the Gospel-izing of the trivial without ever sharing the Gospel.
The unfortunate thing about social media is that you can never discern sincerity.
You never know if an artistic post has the heart to go along with the words.
You never know.
To the one viewing the post, the heart is never considered.
The person before them appears holier, more put together, happier, while they fall short.
But don’t we all?
Isn’t that what God said?
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
Except you would never know about falling short looking at lives through social media.
The best of you looked at by the worst of me.
Your life compared to my life.
Your spiritual walk compared to mine.
My daughter talked on and on about what bothers her about all of this.
She talked about the need to be counter-cultural in response.
The need to be counter-cultural, but to do that in love.
The need to represent Christ well without tagging a Bible verse onto everything you do.
She talked about how to truly encourage another person.
She talked about how to share her faith in love.
She talked about how Jesus ministered to others.
She talked about how burdened she is to do the same.
My heart hurt for all the young people who measure themselves by another’s standards.
My heart was sad for all the young people who do not know the True standard.
The young people who are trying to copy a moving target.
The young people who need to know the immovable Solid Rock on which they can rely.
After my daughter went back to college, I sat in my chair to read.
I checked my phone to see if there were any messages.
I quickly glanced at Instagram.
I have an account that includes three of my children who also post privately there.
My heart was full as I read my daughter’s most recent post.
My eyes filled with tears as I saw the picture.
It was a picture she photographed.
It was a still life of sorts that she designed on our kitchen island.
Her post read as follows:
Cheesy as this quote and picture may be, this is so true, and has really been on my heart lately. In our social media world, it’s so easy to compare. Many times we look at these “picture-perfect” Instagrams, and wonder why we can’t be like that person. We think, “They have it all together, and I don’t.” We feel like, in order to be content, we should model our life after their “Instagram life”, taking artsy pictures with witty hashtags that’ll gain a hundred some likes. But here’s the thing: it’s so easy to make our lives look perfect and put together in a 960×960 pixel square (yes I measured Instagram dimensions) Who’s gonna share a picture of a weary, disheveled person after a long day full of stress? Probably no one. The point is, we don’t need to be modeling ourselves after an Instagram account. The only person we should be modeling ourselves after is Christ. You are fearfully and wonderfully created in His image, and He makes no mistakes. So just be you. Not the you who is influenced by social media, but the raw you. The you that is “made in the likeness of God”, unique and perfect in His eyes. A genuine, “first-edition”, “can’t-be-found-anywhere-else” you ☺️
For You created my inmost being; You knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:13,14)
Enough said.
Another great insight–and your daughter seems to see things in a very mature way. You’ve brought up your kids so well! I wonder when most young people just spend quiet, uninterrupted, uncommunicated time. Why do we have to share everything on social media? I wonder if it will affect creativity—you must have quiet time to be creative and let God speak to you.
Sue,
Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)
You are right! We have to be still enough to hear His Whispers. Still enough to think and ponder and be creative, giving His gifts back to Him for His glory.
Gina
Great Insight! Time posting selfies and every whim of the day is a reflection of a deeper void. God yearns for us. If we don’t yearn for Him, we are depleted..so we substitute. A transparent life writes its own story! Blessings! Keep it up! Love Billie
Amen, Billie!
A transparent life writes its own story….How very true!
We need to pray that their void is filled with HIM!
Gina