WYSIWYG
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (MSG)
All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort - we get a full measure of that, too.
Over the last few days, I’ve been sharing about my experiences volunteering at events. I’d like to revisit one of my reflections on life’s ‘front stage’ and ‘backstage.’ You see, the most captivating performers or speakers are those who remain authentic - whether they’re on stage or off. They’ve grasped the importance of authenticity, transparency, and integrity.
Authenticity: it’s about being genuinely you, regardless of external pressures. No masks, no pretence - just raw, unfiltered truth.
Transparency: imagine being seen through a crystal-clear window. It’s about openness and honesty, even when it’s uncomfortable. Sharing all the relevant details; not holding back.
Integrity: this one’s gold. It means being authentic and transparent even when no one’s watching. It’s doing what you believe in, not just what looks good.
In other words, What You See Is What You Get.
Now, let me share a story. Once, I helped departments write quality control procedures. Instead of starting with what they thought was best, we flipped the script. We wrote about what they actually did, flaws and all. Then we did the ‘how to improve’ part. See, it’s easy to talk a good game, but doing it? That’s where the rubber meets the road.
Here’s the twist: our imperfections connect us. A wise colleague once said, ‘People resonate with brokenness, not perfection.’ So, let’s be brave. Show our cracks, our messy work-in-progress. That’s the pattern others can follow - the messy, beautiful journey.
And guess what? Jesus loves that. He’s not impressed by our polished fronts; he’s drawn to our honest struggles. So, today, don’t fear being yourself. You don’t need to be super spiritual; you just need to let Jesus shine through your cracks. Good news, indeed!
Prayer – Lord, I want to be a person who is transparent and genuine. Help me to operate with integrity and not be afraid to show my true self, the one you are helping.