Five Minute Friday :: Real

Trust in God at all times, O people
Pour out your heart before God
God is a refuge for us
Selah
Psalm 62:8
• Five Minute Friday :: Real Linkup

• The real and the ideal.

• Real or fake?

• Reality or fantasy?

Our host Kate told us she hesitated last week before writing her post because it was a sensitive topic that easily could have been a trigger.

This week she asked but why not be real, with the example of women – and others – usually replying "I'm fine" "doing okay, thanks" and similar when someone asks about your well-being. We don't want to burden anyone, but why not say, "I'm going through a terrible time, please remember me in your prayers." Why not??

We often compare our troubles and challenges with what we've observed of others, with some we've only read about. We even compare our here and now with what we've been through in the past, and because we've come this far by faith, why complain? Why complain, but better yet, why not be real and honest?

Why not be real and honest because the psalmists were real. Moses was real. The prophets were real. Jesus' disciples were real. Jesus of Nazareth was as real as they come—and he really was God!

All of them approached the throne of grace with complaints, outrage, laments, accusations, grief, pleading, pleas, and "please." Do we not trust God enough, do we not trust the Spirit that indwells God's people enough? Why do we edit and sanitize our communications? Why don't we dare be real?

In a previous life I worked in an affluent community where too many seemed to try their best to appear other than what they really(!) were, to chase expensive designer fashion and home decorating trends, to drive high end vehicles, to send their kids to elite schools and summer camps, etc.There was a tremendous concentration of wealth in that part of town; you might say those blessed with generational wealth "came by it honestly" while for many others it never was really real but they tried for a particular appearance that could fake someone out if that other someone didn't know.

One of the proudest moments of my life happened when a casual friend from that place said to me, "You were so real when you interviewed. I was astonished you got the job!" What a compliment!

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