Looking for the red carpet or a magic one or something?
August 19, 2008 · Print This Article
Looking around and taking a good hard look at what is considered success, we see a lot of people with a lot of things that don’t feel very successful. So many people, feeling on the down side of life, are looking for answers to balance the scales and make them feel as good as others. We think the answer is in materialism as portrayed in the media. Great wealth is not the answer. More is not always better! Or is it?
The race is on! We pile up luxuries to give the appearance of successful. What’s that old adage, “Fake till you make it”? Looking at beautiful bodies with lots of artificial effects to alter the basics, we feed on the ice cream and cake, fat salt and sweets of life until we our hearts have become sickened with the whole routine. We roll out the red carpet for ourselves.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed but people don’t seem to be getting happier or more satisfied with more. It seems we pile on the attractive exterior effects on top of insecurity and inferiority. Perhaps we feel that these effects are a magic carpet? Living life on ice cream and cake makes for a rotten core; bad teeth, heart disease, kidney failure (ask me, I’m there), and early demise. Our hearts, our minds are just the same. We want everything to be the best and lots of if. Nobody can have more than me – after all, I am the “Joneses.”
The least popular and most distasteful things are often the best for us. Jesus is no longer popular of course. He’s outdated for much of the population but He still has the healthiest words though often distasteful and misunderstood. He said these words:
“Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”(Luke 12:15), NKJV
So what does success consist of? Remember, beauty is only skin deep. My own personal testimony is that I am more and more pleased with myself knowing that I am developing the inward character to stand strong in tough times. I am learning to fight for life and work for what I achieve and believe that I “can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I know Jesus and I like what he is making of me. I was raised spoiled and grew up pretty much self indulgent. I am learning to be a fighter. No, not fighting others and being a victim but fighting me and my own self indulgence. That self indulgence only makes me dislike myself more and more. As of today, I love myself more and more so that “things” mean less and less. My wealth and gold mine are inside of me where nobody can steal them.
So, take a good honest look at the real you. How well do you know yourself? What are your dreams? How much do you love yourself – I mean really deep down on the inside? Truth gains the victory and hard work makes for success.
Think about it!
It’s funny, I ask myself all the time..Who am I and what do I want out of life, what are my dreams. I do a lot of introspection and it helps i think, to really understand who you are as a person. Which then helps in all the relationships you have. I’m kinda of young so I’m still trying to find myself. Great post though.
Bahamas last blog post..Why Wednesday
I think we’re all trying to find ourselves. Young and Old. But of course with age comes more of an understanding of who we REALLY are. You know they say, youth is wasted on the young, and so i wisdom. The bible says specifically do not despise the wisdom of your father (and FYI the author of this post “Rev” is my father…), and really what it is, is what he passes down, his mistakes and his victories, enable me to make better decision in my own life.
Its like building upon the legacy he created. Im still learning, still somewhat hard headed, but as long as God doesnt give up on me, and Pop’s doesnt, i WILL make it to where God wants me to be.
I think as long as we all keep pushing, keep trying, we will see progress and eventually victory. The problem is some of us have given up. Keep searching, Keep pressing closer to God yall.
Fresh
Wow! That was deep. Excellent post. God is so Primary in my life,and without that core I would be a mess. Hmmph, I’m still a mess at times-LOL- But the Goal is for my Character to be just as awesome as my Father’s. Its a struggle but ultimately my life is a good one because of it. I know he has so much for me, But I must be patient and try my best to stand firm on his word in this crazy….World.
Rae Of Stuff Fly People Likes last blog post..STYLE WATCH:Crooks & Castles 2008 Fall Collection
Hi Bahama,
Enjoyed your response. You’re asking the right questions and I agree that it helps in understanding who we are. This is a really big process and the implications are immense in terms of the potential outcome. As a matter of fact, it’s a matter of destuny. I believe that a person that pracrices introspection attains a much higher potential for success in realationships. Most of us have a tendency to scapegoat others and side step our own personal responsibility but introprospection can be a relationship saver.
Finally, let me add that youth is no impediment to increasing wisdom, if I can use that word. In pursuit of that goal, we need to be sure that we’re getting the right answers to our questions. At the core of “true” religion there is a gold mine of fool-proof pearls of answers made to insure success. There IS really a red carpet for us and it has it’s “magical” aspects. It’s like an action/adventure movie to me.
I’m not talking about the fascade of religious practice. I’m talking about that personal level where very few really appraoch in their personal lives. This is a place that I am finding to be explosive and powerful in my personal revolution. After years of the practice of religion, I’m finding the gold and I love what I am becoming.
Where I have not liked myself much deep in my heart, I am exhilarated with what I am becoming. I love it. If Ihad only looked into it when I was much younger I’d be a force to reckon with.
Had you ever thought that it is a blessing from God that you do the introspection that you do? I like your spirit.
Rev.
Fresh (Son),
You are wise beyond your years. Tough times can do that to a person and we have certainly had our tough times. You and I have been on an adventure together. I am so thankful that you have loved me and been so forgiving and I am so proud of you. You are makred for success by the mind that you have. We’ve come a long, log way and still have a ways to go but as long we stay in fight, we’ll make it. I was near tears to hear you talk about your prayers and telling God that you wanted to please Him.
Love ya’
Pops
Hey Rae,
God is primary in my life too - just as central as I can make Him. As a matter of fact, He’s blowing my mind more and more. I literally mean, He’s blosing my mind. I get revelations and do things that I never imagined doing or saying. Actually, it scares me sometimes and puts me in real awe.
As to standing in this crazy world, there’s no other way to make it. It’s a real honest to goodness fight. We have to be fighters - it’s a must. We have to have the power on ourside or should I say, we have to be on the power side. I’m 61 and learning to be a fighter instead of an habitual quitter. I’m amazed a what the Lord is making me into. Truly amazed.
I can also say, right along with you, I’m still a mess sometimes.
But isn’t it great how God keeps right on blessing? I was just talking to Fresh and he was saying how he is getting a closer realtionship to God. The thought occurred to me that if were not for the fact that God overlooks our ’stuff’ and gives us each breath, and, whispers blessing and love in our ears despite our flakeyness, we would never even think to draw closer to Him. When you think about it, the Bible says that ” . . . In Him we live and move and have our being . . . ” He’s like the conduit to life. He could pull the plug at any momment so we can know that it is a personal act of His love that we get the very next breath. We may not deserve it but He’s bigger than our faults, isn’t he?
As to my post being deep, I’m a deep pursuer. I want to know Him as deeply as possible. He fills me up with deep and it’s better than an action/adventure movie.
I’m glad about you
Rev