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October 4, 2007

Thoughts on Being Real and Living from the Heart

by Shana Schutte

Living out of the center of our hearts and being real with others--and ourselves--takes courage. It means embracing all that we are, and all that we fear we will never be, so that God can redeem, restore and usher us into our broken places for healing. To deny our tears or faults is to deny being real. If we shove down grief and unpleasant emotions; we must create a duplicate self--one that we live from in public, and one that we are in private, where those who are uncomfortable with the foibles of humanity cannot mock us.

When we live from two selves--a public self and a private self--we deceive ourselves. Given long enough, it can become difficult to tell where the real part of us ends and the pretentious side begins. To only live out of the part of our hearts that others find socially acceptable means we have embraced the lie that only the near-perfect parts of us are good enough--that anything less is reason to be ashamed.

When we live from the center of our hearts, we give others the permission to live from their true selves, too. Rather than being repulsive, our brokenness and humanity, when redeemed by the love of God, becomes like a magnet that draws others to Christ. It gives them the confidence that Jesus can love them, too. Just like cracked pots, the light of God shines through us to draw and woo others to Christ.

Living out of the center of our hearts means we recognize ourselves as spiritual beings--that we will live forever in relationship in heaven with the God of the Universe. This knowledge that I am His and He is mine helps me to believe the whispers of the Holy Spirit. It gives me confidence that He speaks to those He loves. Living out of the center of my heart means that I can be entirely who God created me to be so I can fulfill His purposes for me.

Jesus never struggled with having a public self and a private self, with being one person while in the presence of others and another when alone. Because He knew who He was and who He belonged to, He didn't concern Himself with naysayers and mockers. This solid sense of His identity helped him to live out of the center of His heart to fulfill God's purpose for Him. In trusting who He was in His relationship with God, He knew the strength that was needed to be true to His father and true to Himself.

"Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place." (Psalm 51:6)

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