I just read Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Connection for October 26, 2009.
He wrote:
Authentic friendships are more than superficial, surface-level chit-chat. They involve genuine, heart-to-heart, sometimes gut-level, sharing.
These friendships develop when we get honest about who we are and what is happening in our lives. They develop when we share our hurts, reveal our feelings, confess our failures, disclose our doubts, admit our fears, acknowledge our weaknesses, and ask for help and prayer.
Unfortunately, this level of authenticity and intimacy is the exact opposite of what we find in many churches. Instead of an atmosphere of honesty and humility, we often become involved in pretending, role-playing, politicking, superficial politeness, and shallow conversation. We begin to wear masks, keep our guard up, and act as if everything is rosy in our lives. These attitudes are the death of real friendship.
It’s only as we become open about our lives that we experience authentic fellowship.
While the world thinks intimacy occurs in the dark, God says it happens in the light. We tend to use darkness to hide our hurts, faults, fears, failures, and flaws. But in God’s light, we can bring them all out into the open and admit who we really are.
Of course, being authentic requires both courage and humility. It means facing our fear of exposure, rejection, and being hurt again.
Why would anyone take such a risk?
Why would anyone take a risk at being their authentic self? What a question. In my opinion, there’s no better way to live. Open. Honest. Pure. Real. Whole.
But in reality I take the risk because I’ve found that when I’m open about my fears and failures that that somehow allows others to do the same.
It also makes people comfortable when they know that you’re comfortable with yourself and have a balanced perspective on how see yourself in the world.
But to be completely honest, the opposite is just too scary for me. Being something I’m not. Keeping quiet, as I try to meet others’ expectations and ideals, while fitting into molds made for another……African American woman. Detroiter. Single woman in her thirties.
What a bore I would be.
I wouldn’t be a woman who loves looking at diverse dishes and teapots.
A woman who dreams of traveling to New Zealand.
A woman who dreams of skydiving.
A woman who dared ask herself: What do you want to do next? And set out to do just that.
A woman who forced herself to wear the color she never thought she’d love…..but did!
A woman who could admit to missing a friend.
A woman who was comfortable telling someone she was hurt.
A woman who could admit to a mistake and not miss a beat.
A woman who believes in correcting herself….
What are your thoughts? Are you afraid to be your authentic self?
