Just do 'YOU'

Without a doubt, the last few months have been a real trial for me in terms of time and responsibilities. One too many projects have slowly stolen away at my ability to share with you on this forum weekly. My commitment to you sis, is that I’m right here, regardless. Thank you for your regular feedback and for letting me know this blog is speaking to you one way or the other, as we walk this walk of me being uniquely me, and you being uniquely you.

A comment was posted last week from a reader who on one hand said a kind word about the post, and then made an odd (sarcastic?) remark about how the posts were ‘a bit too brief for beginners’ and could I ‘please prolong them next time?’ I will admit for a second I was taken aback for a second, and then I had a hearty chuckle as I thought how happy I would be to oblige, lol. Please forgive me “Anonymous’, but I have said in a few of my earlier posts, that I don’t do ‘brief’. This blog is not designed to do cute and conventional! I write from the heart as the Holy Spirit leads. Truth is that for as many that like to read the small books, there are many more who like the huge 1000-page books that run into volumes 1, 2 and 3. I do however appreciate the feedback and indeed this comment has inspired this particular post. Thank you and thank you again.

Just last week, I found myself in the middle of one of those rather engaging discussions regarding life and living. As we discussed the many pressures we face from family, the work place, etc, many  diverse opinions and perspectives were played out.  Things really took an interesting turn when the point about the kinds of pressures we impress, unsolicited, upon ourselves was raised. The question was, ‘Why do we inadvertently try to conform to the expectations/conventions of others?’ It is almost amusing how the immediate reaction of most people is to deny conformity, but the realities belie the fact. Any deep and honest period of introspection will bring the very best of us to the realization that we have been conditioned from birth to conform to certain environmental, familial or societal expectations, the most basic of which are now so ingrained that they have since become our very own norms. Anything wrong with this? Not necessarily, no!  

I had wondered out loud however, why as mature adults we unwittingly, and sometimes willingly, put ourselves under the pressure of trying to conform to the conventions of 'people'. Why do we find it so hard to defy convention? From the big things to the small seemingly unimportant things, we find it more comfortable to swim with the tide. Why, pray tell, do we get so hung up on what 'people' will say or think? Yet, we all want to make a difference? Hmmm!  I wonder, why for instance,  I should limit my posts to 600 words each because someone/group somewhere have ‘established’ that that is the number of words that holds the attention of ‘most’ people (never mind that they polled only 100,000 out of the hundreds of millions who can and do read)? Why should I not be true to myself because the conventions of man demand otherwise? Why shouldn't I do 'Me', and why can’t you just do 'You', sis?

You and I are created uniquely by the Master craftsman Himself. Our Lord God omnipotent thought you through from your end and back to your beginning. He breathed His glorious life into you and put some amazing gifts in you that He longs to see you use to the fullest. You are called forth to show His glory, to work His plans and purpose, to bless the earth and to be a blessing to unborn generations. I promise you this, sis: you cannot live to the fullness of your God-given potential.... you cannot live a fulfilled life, if you allow yourself be pressured into conforming. The one sure thing that you and I need to do, is to take our eyes off from the apparent acceptance of man, keep our eyes steadfastly fixed on Him, keep our ears fully attentive to His instructions, so that in our being and doing, we will conform to His expectations of each of us. You have to do ‘YOU’, sis! You must! And I have to do ‘ME’. Nothing else would truly give God all the glory.

Can I ask you to quietly and honestly answer these questions to yourself if you will. Do you have a constant yearning in your heart to do more and be more? Do you envy (err… sorry sis, no sugar coating on this one. It’s envy! Let’s call it as it is, and the Lord will help us) someone else who has achieved some milestone(s) that you know/believe you could have/should have achieved? Do you find yourself - glad for your friend/sister/colleague, yes; but also quietly asking God when your own recognition/promotion/financial breakthrough/etc will come? Do you ever find yourself inwardly resentful (even if ever so slightly) because you feel so much more deserving of something than someone else? Ouch! Oh boy!

Let’s be honest sis. We have - each and every one of us, been in one or more of these places… and sometimes in all of them at the same time, at one point or the other in our lives. A question to self would be how much more we could have achieved if we had been more willing to defy conventions and be true to the innermost desires of our hearts? How different would our lives have been if we were bold enough to stand alone in the crowd? How much more fulfilled would you be sis, if you had given full expression to your gifts and aspirations, regardless of what may have been the more conventional way of doing things? Are you stifling that something within you that desperately desires to break forth and shine through, because convention says it ought not be done? Because convention make an odd remark about it, or doesn't even have an idea what it would look like?

All through the Bible, the Lord asks various people to work what they have already in their hands, and each time great exploits came out of their obedience. Interestingly enough, our Lord moved and continues to move in rather creative ways….  a la talking donkeys, water out of rocks, parting of seas, spit and mud, et al. We serve a God that is innovation and creativity in Himself. One thing is clear to me, as long as we are filled with His Spirit and offer ourselves willingly to be led by Him, we cannot be at peace until we come to the place of being our unique Spirit-led selves exclusively.

God has a sure calling for you, sis. He has a sure calling for me. I can assure you though, that you and I are not called to the entire world. No! He has called you to some and called the next person to yet others. Don’t worry about what your sister/brother/friend/colleague is doing, being or achieving. Don’t focus on what everyone else expects you to be, do, or achieve. Just hold on to God… the One Who created YOU; the One Who can fill YOU, and the only One Who can fulfill YOU. In this place of submission, the Lord will direct your path; He will order your steps. He will make your assignment clear; He will give you the boldness to express yourself, and by the power of His Spirit, you will make purposeful impact in the lives of those to whom He has assigned YOU.

Ask God today to help you to always do ‘YOU’, sis. I mean, just look at you….. You are a masterpiece! A divinely crafted original! Don’t allow the conventions of men steal away from your destiny! Just do YOU, sis. Just be ‘Uniquely You!’

 In the eyes of our Father, that's the most awesome that you can be.

The Lord will help you, sis. He will help me. 

Be blessed sis… for you surely are!