Is this Real Life?

A big thing that's been hitting home for me lately, a theme I guess you could call it, is vulnerability. Being genuine with everyone you come in contact with, no matter what.  Everyone seems to struggle with this to an extent. Why? Why is it so hard to be ourselves? 

For me, it comes from fear. Fear that I won't be accepted or noticed if I'm actually myself. It might be something different for you. Maybe it's hard to be you because you don't know who you are yet. Or because past experiences have made you feel it's unsafe to be real. No matter the reason, the fact is it's difficult. 

But it's SO worth it. 

I'm slowly realizing that nothing is more beautiful than being fully known and yet fully loved. This is why the love of Christ is so precious-He knows us completely and still pursues us and allows us to fully know Him.  Now here's something mind blowing:

We are called to love like that. 

Obviously we can't completely understand everyone or allow everyone to completely understand us. But we can be real with people. Not saying "I'm fine" when really nothing is fine. Or, on the opposite end, not being afraid to be completely off the wall joyful! Trusting people, and God, enough to be you. To believe you are worth being known because you are in Him. This is vulnerability. 

I got a taste of that this last week of break. I opened up to a group of people, and what amazed me was they respected me more for it. They also opened up themselves to me, and I have never been more humbled. The experience was such a picture of how the church should be. No fake faces. No show. But reckless, raw, messy, unadulterated acceptance and love. This is what we've been given; this is what we should give. Relentless grace. Relating to each other, not through judgemental comparison and pride, but Christ alone. This is our calling. And let me tell you, nothing brings more joy! I can honestly say I have never felt this blessed. By being who I am called to be unapologetically, I feel genuinely accepted by others for the first time. I can confidently say the friends I have, both in Yakima and Ecola, love the true me, not a fake face. It's the free-est of frees I've ever known, and I pray every one of you experience it. All I can say is Praise Jesus. He is so trustworthy and faithful and good. This is where I stand. And it's wildly amazing.

"That Christ may dwell in your hearst through faith-that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpases knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17-19