We live in a world where we are told that disagreements mean you hate somebody or are judging them. We surround ourselves with people that look like us, act like us, believe similar to us, and care about the same things we do. Different is scary and difference leads to conflict and conflict is bad.
Instead of hearing people out and calmly discussing our differences we tell people they are too emotional when they cry, we call them heartless when they deal with pain stone faced, we ask them to stand up for the weak but call them bossy when they take the lead, we shove people into a tiny box and are then astonished that they don’t believe they have the wingspan to fly wherever they want and change the world.
We don’t just do others a disservice by asking them to not be themselves, we do the world around us a disservice. God created us, each of us, in His image. As humans we can’t ever match God, but we each have a different part of God stamped in our very essence.
The pieces of our personality that make each other a little uncomfortable because we don’t fully understand them? THOSE. THOSE are the moments we should lean into. Those are the moments we should be all ears. Those are the moments we should look forward to rather than shut down. Because those are the moments God is shining through the human constraints we put on ourselves and the people around us. Those are the moments our beautifully created brains are showing the incredible handiwork that God put into each of us.
I’m currently walking the Camino in Spain. My favorite part about it is meeting the incredible human beings that are walking alongside me. Each has a unique story. Each has a unique perspective. Each has their own reason for being here.
But you know what? Everybody wants to know each other. On the Camino people don’t shy away from the difficult discussions. I’ve had more real conversations with virtual strangers in the last two weeks than I have with some people I’ve known for years. For some reason being on the Camino we aren’t afraid of people judging our personalities or the pieces of us we are scared to show. And for some reason we relish the different opinions and perspectives.
I’ve watched somebody change their mind about something they believed rather strongly because of a discussion we had. I’ve changed my mind on a few things because of somebody else’s input.
Most of my life I’ve believed the lies that I’m too
-loud
-opinionated
-logical
-bossy
-fierce
-independent
-stubborn
-passionate
Too much.
I’ve been told and believed that in order to be a real part of the Kingdom I had to become less of those things.
But today I realized I’m tired of being less. I’m tired of not actually being me because it makes people nervous.
God gave me a loud voice to be heard over the worlds hubbub.
God gave me an opinionated heart and mind to shake and change the status quo.
God gave me a logical brain to see the things we can do better and how to do that.
God gave me leadership, not bossiness (thank you world for making strong females think their leadership skills are bad and make them bossy, great job), to be a beacon that points others towards our Father.
God gave me a fierceness that was a lot to raise and is a lot to love because He knew I would need it to grow where He knew future me would be planted.
God wove independence into the fiber of my being so I could forge new paths where nobody else was willing to go, even if I have to go alone.
God gave me a stubborn streak a mile wide so that I could look at wrong, call it wrong, and not shift even when everybody tells me I should.
God gave me passion to set a fire.
These things scare a lot of people. I’ve been told a lot of times that these things are ugly and should be hidden or only brought out when it is convenient for people.
God has given me the freedom to no longer bubble wrap myself to make me more comfortable for other people. Growing, changing, and the sanctification process in general has just begun. But the cycle of watering myself down to help others like me or want me more has just ended.
Some shackles just take time to throw off, others require you to walk hundreds of miles across Spain to break free from, and that’s okay. Be free
