Conversation

In my life I think I have most enjoyed my chance to get to know a lot of young children. I mean before the world teaches them to protect themselves. I mean the time when in their innocence they are curious and open. They say what is on their minds and they ask what they want to know. I could always look into their eyes and see the light and life and joy that seems to die as childhood goes on. I've had many conversations with such youngsters and I would smile in my heart. Somewhere along the road we come to the point where we modify what will say and what we will do based on our expectations of the response of others. We begin to program life around the desire to be accepted by some group of people with whom we are willing to conform our choices. We begin to falsely think that we are now safe and have friends. The problem comes internally. When we change our thoughts and actions to be accepted, then inside we are saying "they would not like the real me". We are surrounded by friends who we are sure don't really know us, and who we fear would reject the real us. I call that being lonely in a crowd. Popular without a true friend. God wants us comfortable in our own skin. One area that indicates this issue is our unwillingness to show others our faith. To tell others about our belief in Christ.

Remember only by sharing the real you and finding some folks who accept the real you will you ever have a true friend. Anything else fails to provide what God knows we need. Only then will the lights go on and our eyes look again like the eyes of children.