So, I am this detail-oriented person who is always observing the miniscule things of life. One day I was thinking about the personalities of various people I encounter in my life. I have had interactions recently with some truly extraordinary people and interactions with some less than extraordinary people. Here is a list of a few with whom I have crossed paths:
. a stern, rigid person who later turned out to be kind and friendly when stress and responsibilities lowered somewhat
. a smart-alec person who irritated everyone in his path
. a joyful person who was in the middle of a serious family situation but did not dwell on the negative
. a person who was not self-aware and was condescending, argumentative, and hurtful to those closest family and friends
. a know-it-all person who would argue or one-up every single person encountered
. a caring person who cares so much that people take advantage
. a loving, generous person who treated everyone with kindness
. a gripey person who I eventually discovered was in the middle of a personal trauma that they kept very private
. a happy, laughing person who was actually hurting on the inside
. an arrogant person who was always right (even when it was not true)
. a quiet, but thoughtful person, whose countenance glowed
Today, God reminded me, again, yes, again, that I also have personality traits that maybe reflect exactly who I am but maybe don’t reflect who I think I am or whose I say I am. Hmmm. Who I am…Who I think I am…Whose I say I am—just a few letters are different in those phrases, but those few letters really change the meaning of the phrases, don’t they?
Do my encounters with people leave a positive impression or a negative impression? Do I even care? Am I so entrenched in my way of thinking that I have become indifferent to others? Now, to be clear, I am not saying that we should elevate other people’s opinions over the voice of God. But sometimes, if I prayerfully inspect myself and how I interact with others, God can reveal things about my personality. Do I reflect the love of Jesus as I meander through my life or do I just meander doing my own thing without a thought of whose I am. Someone is always watching. What am I reflecting? Is my life just barely a flicker of light or does it shine for Jesus?
Lord, help me be a learner as you work in my life. Help me not to resist the efforts to smooth off the rough spots in my personality. Make me more like you. Continue your work in my life, helping me grow closer to you. Remind me that growing closer and closer to you is necessary to become more like you. Gently guide me to consider how I am seen by others. I want to reflect your love in everything I do and say. I don’t want to just occasionally flicker.
