Paradoxical People

We wake up, do whatever must first be done, and stagger to the kitchen to swallow whatever must be swallowed first. Somewhere along the way, we recover enough presence of mind to make some decisions. One of those decision is who we will be this day.

We fumble through the sock drawer, the underwear drawer, and the face drawer looking for an identity. We reach into the well of moods and attitudes to extract an approach to the day. How will we present ourselves? Who will we see? What do we hope to accomplish?

Will I be the laid back, casual man I am when there are few if any demands? Will I be the dead serious all-business overachiever with a power tie? Will I dress for work or for play? Will I be positive or will I be less than positive?

Do I put on my family face, my office face, or my public face?

Will I be me or will I let the imposter inhabit my body and to what extent?

I am a paradox - as are you. We are many faces to many other faces. The real me and the real you is the "us" that we were made to be - intended for greatness, destined for relationship, designed in and for love. The Master Designer of the universe is the personal designer of each of His children. The real person is the one in the blueprints, the finished product in the mind and heart of the Creator - fearfully and wonderfully made, beloved, creative, awe-struck, funny, joyful, and caring. It is the person who has been crafted by grace, showered by mercy, and bathed in agape.

The imposter/phony is everything else that has attached itself to us. He/she/it has the capacity to imitate, obscure, and mock everything that is real and impose itself as the real thing. But it is not.

The imposter is a very powerful force with which to be reckoned, but it is not invincible. Grace gives us choices. I can put on the phony face or just be myself. If I choose to be myself, I'll need more grace and a lot of help. I will have to deal with the imposter's jeers that the real me is inadequate and I will have to assert that whatever I am is what I am and what I will be.

I am a paradox. There are many dimensions to my life, but it is still morning and I still have some choices.