A Journey of Discovery

I'm reading a book called The Gift of Being Yourself: The Sacred Call to Self-Discovery by David G. Benner and it is a timely read for this part of my journey.  It is timely because the Lord seems to be making more and more clear to me the importance of knowing myself, and really to be at peace with who God made me.

I am unique.  There is no one on this good green earth that is exactly like me.  I have been told, at different times, that to them I look like Wayne Gretzky (I really don't see that!), and also the actor who plays Boramir from Lord of the Rings (this is a little easier to handle).  Anyway, my point is this, even if I resemble someone else, no one is exactly me.

That distinction is mine alone.

But it is one thing to be aware that you are unique, and an entirely different thing to really know who you are.  Jesus wants us to know Him and to know ourselves in a true and meaningful way, and to get there requires relationship.  Brenner says: "Truly transformational knowledge is always personal, never merely objective.  It involves knowing of, not merely knowing about.  And it is always relational.  It grows out of a relationship to the object that is known."  And for us, that 'object' is Jesus!

We find all the answers we are looking for in Jesus:  He says he is "the way".  He offers to help us navigate through our lives; He says he is 'the truth'.  He gives us an anchor of understanding through which all other ideas, formulas, perceptions and interpretations can be evaluated through.  And he says he is 'the life'.  He gives us a way of living that brings hope for now and the future.  Jesus opens the door for us to curiously engage the wide-wonder of the world he has placed us in. Saying that we find everything in Jesus is not to imply that we need become narrow-minded and closed off to the deep discussions that surround us in our modern societies.  In fact, a real relationship with Jesus should motivate us to be the voices that really engage in all spheres of life because we recognize the fingerprints of our Creator in every and all areas of human existence.

Jesus also knows us better than we know ourselves, and I believe that he longs for us to become fully alive.  And by that I mean, that we become open to the journey of self-discovery.  Jesus formed us, and he wants us to find our peace in Him--in every aspect of who we are. 

I think many people think they really know themselves, and I also think that many people are deceived.  Because when Jesus brings truly transformational understanding of themselves and of Him, there is one overriding character that rises--peace.  And there are a lot of people out there that do not live with peace inside.

Today, I offer you what Jesus offers:  an invitation to a journey of self-discovery and genuine transformation that leads to inner peace.  And it starts with us saying to Jesus "I'm ready".

It could be quite a ride. . . .

BT