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Introducing Me to Me - Part 4

by Jerry Ousley  
9/30/2016 / Christian Living

If you've heard this story before, please humor me. We used to love visiting with our cousins and aunt and uncle in Hamilton, Ohio. But let me back up a bit. A new fad had started in our meager little burg of Azalia. I don't know if all of a sudden Lil' Abner became popular again or what, but suddenly all our friends were wearing high-water pants (you know, the ones that reach about an inch above your ankles) with holes in them, held up by a belt constructed from a rope. The shirt was normally an old t-shirt and the attire was completed by wearing no socks and an old pair of tennis shoes. I called them "my comfortable clothes."

We were getting ready to take a trip to Hamilton for the weekend and we were naturally excited. I was very proud of my comfortable clothes and thought I might sport the latest rage (at least in Azalia) to those city-slickers, so I told my mother that I was going to take my "comfortable clothes." She misinterpreted that statement as "play clothes" and I was overjoyed when she approved and quickly packed a couple of outfits of my "comfortable clothes."

We arrived in Hamilton were glad to be there and our relatives made us feel very welcomed. Of course I had worn a normal outfit on the trip saving my "comfortable clothes". The next morning when it came my turn to shower and get ready for the day, I went through my routine and then began adorning myself with my "comfortable clothes." I couldn't wait to step out of the bathroom and get those compliments from all the others. The adults were all in the kitchen getting breakfast ready when I stepped into the room. "Good morning everyone!" I exclaimed so as to get their attention. They all turned to look at me and no one spoke a word for a few seconds but those few seconds felt like hours. "What's wrong?" I thought.

Mom finally broke the icy tension of the moment by saying, "Jerry, what are you wearing!" "My comfortable clothes," I replied. I noticed a few snickers and some smiles that were demanding to burst into laughter but no one dared because they knew Mom was not a happy camper. I couldn't understand what all the fuss was about; after all, I was in the latest style, or so I thought. Anyway, Mom explained it to me in no uncertain terms as she half-drug me to the next room. When she discovered that all the clothes in my bag were similar to what I was wearing she reluctantly shook her head and said, "You'll just have to wear them, son." Then she returned to the kitchen where she tried to explain to our hosts through her red face. It was red partly from anger and partly from embarrassment.

When I took a good look at my clothes compared to the double knit polyester clothing of my cousins suddenly I was impacted with how silly I looked. I might have been cool at home but I was a big-time hick here. I saw myself as I looked to others and spent the rest of the weekend trying to hide as much as I could. My "comfortable clothes" weren't so comfortable anymore.

The point is that we all need to take a good look at who we are in order to introduce us to ourselves. We all basically think we're good guys. There are a few exceptions to this but most of us want to believe that we are "okay fellows." It's the same way in our Christian lives. We don't like admitting that we're less than perfect. Oh, we may make statements like "No one's perfect," or "That's just the way I am," but in reality it isn't fun admitting to our flaws and imperfections. It takes spiritual guts to really take a good hard look at who we are. Remember the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:31 which say, "For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged."

We all would like to be closer to God. But the only way that is going to happen is to introduce me to me and see ourselves for who we really are. Then roll up our sleeves and let God show us what to work on. It isn't easy but it is the right thing to do and we'll be glad to get rid of those "comfortable clothes" we've worn so long and adorn ourselves with the clothes of God.

Jerry D. Ousley is the author of ?Soul Challenge?, ?Soul Journey?, ?Ordeal?, ?The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional and his first novel ?The Shoe Tree.? Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge.

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