Due to the later sunrise in winter, our girls have taken to turning on every light in the house as they come down to our room in the morning. So of late we have awoken to bright light in our eyes, instinctively hiding under the covers from it.
We love light, it allows us to see things clearly, and not stumble around. But it can also be uncomfortable, when it cuts through the darkness and we flinch away.
Have you noticed how the truth cuts? How it is uncomfortable? How it gets to the depths of you and exposes that which you would rather be hidden.
truth: the quality of being true, genuine, actual, or factual; something that is true as opposed to false; honesty
When we say we want to be people of the truth are we willing to accept all that it entails?
For truth, honesty, and authenticity are words that expose. Words that bring things into the light.
When you bring something into the light you see it clearly, the beauty and the flaws.
When we say we want to be authentic we are also inevitably saying we are willing to be uncomfortable.
It is only when we get comfortable with being uncomfortable, that we can be truly authentic. We need to get comfortable with how the truth stretches us, the adjustment. We need to get comfortable with the exposure and healing of the ugly parts of ourselves that truth brings.
It is interesting how honesty is attractive. Authentic people literally draw others to themselves. We are hungry for it in a world of polished self-image and carefully targeted advertising.
And yet it can also be challenging. The rawness of genuine people can lead us to examine our lives and our selves.
It puts us in touch with emotions we don’t want to deal with. Or past hurts we would rather not resolve. Or relationships that need work to truly mend.
Sometimes it is easier to keep those flaws hidden in our depths, in the dark. Hide under the covers and pretend. Stay comfortable.
But as people of the light, hiding is not an option. As Jesus himself says:
“If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives.” (Matthew 5:15)
Learning to be authentically uncomfortable.
Join me for the journey,
Jodie