acceptance

I've spent a lot of time pondering the statement recently made to me by a friend: "I just want people to accept me the way I am." He then went on to say that his "friends" accepted him, his lifestyle choices, everything. They didn't look down on his decisions, they thought he was a great guy. What was my problem?

I thought about what he said. A lot. Mostly because it really cut me. This is a friend I truly love and care a lot about. When I've spoken with him about his life choices, it has been from a place of love, a place of concern for his happiness. And all he felt was judged.

As I pondered, the story of Cain and Abel was brought to my mind. I thought about the story and I thought about the subtlety of Satan. The subtlety that led Cain first to offer a sacrifice of his own choosing.

I am sure that Satan whispered something to Cain that was similar to what my friend said to me. "God (and those that follow Him) do not undestand you. They don't accept who you are. If they understood and accepted you, they would not ask you to be different or to be more than what you are."

These kind of deceiving whispers speak to the individuality of our spirits, they speak to the eternal gift of agency each of us fought to protect. And yet they are laced with a lie. They beckon us to live in the squalor of the "natural man," to deny godliness, and to tell God that if He really loved us, He would come to us and He would not expect us to come to Him.

And so Cain offered the sacrifice of a farmer - the natural man and the natural gift. But it was not what God required. The sacrifice God required would as a consequence require more of Cain. It would require him to stretch, to reach, to bend his will to the will of the Lord. In short, it would be hard.

God did not accept Cain's offering. Satan used this as evidence of God's lack of love for Cain - and His favoritism for Abel. When neither was the case.

My friend notwithstanding, how many of us do the same thing? I know there are times when I want the Lord to understand "this is just how I am - I can't change it" when deep down I know that if we are to find the image of the Lord in our countenances we must reject that idea - wholeheartedly. We must sacrifice in the way the Lord has commanded - with a broken heart and a contrite spirit - one that says, "this is how I am - but I want to be like you - please help me."

THAT is the sacrifice he requires. It requires us to stretch, to reach, to do more. In short, it is hard. But it is worth it - He has promised us all that He has.

I hope I can find each day the courage to do the hard work - the heavy lifting required for discipleship. I hope one day my friend will join me.

Pondering.
M