As we become adults, we choose who we are. Will we mirror others or will we strive to be the one we discover is the real us? Are we an original or are we a copycat? Peer pressure can push us at early ages and beyond if we allow it. It always helps to have someone urging us to be honest, to express ourselves and our passions but with courtesy and consideration. Guidelines set a tone for how we conduct our lives.
For believers, we must study our Savior and attempt to emulate his character - although ours will always fall short and remain flawed. Nevertheless, we continue to purge ourselves of our innate selfishness, bad habits, particular faults, and we understand how difficult it is and will remain. We also grab hold of the fact we were designed to be our best us. This Creator had supernatural attributes in mind when he "knit us together" in our mother's wombs. We're no accidents. Even if and when we feel like we are.
Acknowledging that we are individuals, unique in many ways, we are also humankind and prone to similar behaviors in many circumstances. We exhibit gene traits from those who contributed to our DNA. Brothers and sisters often favor one parent or the other and can also be a near-perfect blend of both. Some identical twins possess an uncanny ability to feel each other's pains and thoughts and sense each other's distress when in separate locations. The amazing but stained human race enduring life on planet earth.
As a writer, I work for authenticity. I desire to capture the nuances of behaviors and underlying needs present in people. I hope my characters portray life in the most real sense of living it. Since I primarily author love stories, I want the reading experience to be visceral, to capture the inherent need for love, and the ingrained struggle with sin. If the story is too tidy, it won't be real to me. Life is not neat and clean. Even for those who embrace Christianity. Even for those who want so desperately to be like Jesus. Failures of all kinds can reflect on our faith and increase our despair. Life is tough. People hurt. They get angry. They blame God. They want to quit. All of these situations are pertinent to story, to relationships.
As a person, I try to be an example of "what you see is what you get". In other words I'm not trying to deceive you. I may be quiet or boisterous depending on my surroundings and the company I'm keeping. I don't trust easily and am suspicious by nature. I will give my loyalty when someone's earned it, and I won't pull it back. I care and feel deeply. I am who God made me. He didn't create the flaws - I was born with them. They haunt me sometimes by the minute. Like my tagline states: Passionate, right or wrong. That's me. Grateful for the Lord's rescue. Grateful for each of you, my friends. Grateful. Period.
So. This is my Friday meandering.
Father, bless those who seek after you and desire to be the one you designed them to be. Help those who've fallen back through broken dreams and ugly circumstances. Encourage as only you can and demonstrate your everlasting love for them. Prosper our spirits, Lord. We're all desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.