Not That Guy

I recently have found myself making an interesting statement.

When I say or do something that I don't like that I do, I will often say, "I don't want to be that guy."

I say it a lot and I've learned that I may be focusing on the wrong thing.

I wonder at times whether or not I should think about the type of person that I choose to be.

Is that something worth thinking about, or by ignoring it will my identity work itself out. Honestly, I have no idea how to answer this question at this point in my life, but based off of my experiences thus far in life, I'd say there should be a balance of both.

You shouldn't be spending so much time worrying about who you are, because who you are should be made clear by how you interact with and treat others. At the same time, self awareness is just as important. You should know how you dealing with someone a certain way will not only impact you, but also impact others view of who you are.

I'm not talking about caring about what others think of you, because that shouldn't matter if you
are living rightly.

"A king may move a man, a father may claim a son. But remember that, even when those who move you be kings or men of power, your soul is in your keeping alone. When you stand before God you cannot say 'but I was told by others to do thus' or that 'virtue was not convenient at the time'. This will not suffice. Remember that."
-King Baldwin IV from Kingdom of Heaven

At the end of the day your actions are your own. I pray that the message you are sending to others is not, "man, I don't want to be that guy..."

No. That's not what I want at all.

What I pray is that people see how you are living and say to themselves, "Man, I want to be that guy."

Using Words to Form a Sentence

"The reality is, if you are not willing to change, you cannot bring change."
-Erwin McManus

The idea of change is interesting. Most people don't like the idea of changing because they don't see anything wrong with who they are. I know that most of the time when someone says I should change something about me specifically or something I say or do, I shrug it off.

Who are you to judge me? Why should I listen to him? I seem to recall an old phrase about a black pot or something, but it escapes me at the moment.

I'm not saying that what others say holds any merit, but at the same time maybe you should consider what they say. Whether it be a close friend or someone you hardly know, take everything you hear about yourself, good or bad and genuinely think about it. Even if they are wrong in the end, you'll be more open-minded and then you can grow.

I'm missing the point (which at this point I'm not sure what that's going to be). I have thought about change over the years an awful lot and have even written about it in the past. I used to say that change didn't happen. What occurred was growth or you would draw away from your true character. If I've ever had that conversation with you. Forget everything I've ever said because I was wrong.

Change can happen.

The only problem is our willingness to change.

Generally, people don't change. Generally people are terrible.

But since when did we let the majority define who we are as individuals?

Oh sorry, that's all Americans know how to do these days.

Change is not something to be afraid of, but something to rejoice in. When you come into relationship with Jesus Christ, something has to be different. If nothing happens to you, if you're still the same, what's the point of knowing Christ?

I am terrified of change. When I get into a routine, I like it and get used to it quickly. I don't know what will happen if I break that routine, so why should I mess with the unknown when I know what's safe and secure?

Sounds pretty pathetic to me. I've lived most of my life this way. Scared and afraid of what's around me. Uncertainty is terrifying! I'd much rather know what is right in front of me than wander around in the darkness.

At the same time, I want to live. Living in certainty may be living, but it's sitting on the sidelines. I've been sitting there for too long now and I think it is time to attempt the more difficult tasks of life and truly be alive.

How does it start though?

Where do I begin?

It's amazing how one verse or passage from the Bible can just flow through your heart and soul. One that I constantly encourage people with is Psalm 37:4. I've never read a truer or more practical scripture in the Bible. It reads:

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Sounds like a great starting point to me. Transformation can only come from a desire to change. Without it, there's not much point in looking for it.

Transformation can even take place with the worse of cynics. I know that sounds like a stretch, but trust me, I've seen it happen.