Living with the real you

Theoretically when you look into a mirror you see an accurate reflection of yourself.  You see the real you. 

I think it takes a photograph to capture the real you, especially when it's a candid.  I am continually amazed at how old I've gotten.  Apparently when I look into a mirror I do a little bit of mental improvement without even thinking about it.

We are the same way about our whole selves.  We look into our lives (actions, choices, comments, desires) and do a bit of mental editing without a great deal of thought or effort.  We think we know and are willing to admit, if only to ourselves, the truth about ourselves.

Taking up the task of discipleship to Jesus means learning how to live with the real you.  Peter, having denied knowing Jesus three times, must admit to himself that he was the kind of person who would deny Jesus in a moment of fear and self-preservation.  Thomas, who wanted to touch the evidence before he would embrace the concept of a risen Jesus, had forever to admit to himself that he was the kind of person who asked for proof.

Telling the truth about yourself is a process of learning to live with the fact that you are the kind of person who.................well, what would you put in the blank?  Once you accept your own frailty, nastiness, envy, pride, fear, (whatever you want to put in that blank) then you can begin living with the real you.  And you can begin to give the guy next to you a little more space to be less than perfect.

BTW, Jesus has always known this about you.  Jesus has always loved you just the same.  Just don't convince yourself that God loves you because you are such a nice person, because none of us are.