Acceptance.

(Kinda a response to chris's post)

hey dude, what a nice post :)

I just came back from the wedding that you were just in. During the time of catching up, wife told me that someone said something about me that it's downright insulting...

When she first told me what was said, I was shocked. I mean it doesn't feel good to be demeaned, insulted directly or indirectly. I got over it fairly quickly (because God is a very skilled healer). And now that I thought about it, what she said revealed more about her than me...

Like you said man, "...Not everyone knows us through and through and we end up getting unnecessarily hurt by these people." In the end, we get hurt by ppl whom we want acceptance from... or our need for acceptance.

Acceptance is a funny thing. By itself it's not a bad thing nor a good thing. It's when we need that accpetance from a 'wrong' person. And when that person say things hurtful, we feel pain.

Anyone can say anything about us really. Someone wise once said, opinions are like assholes, everyone has one. But for me, I'm concerned only with the one who has the final say- Jesus. He says I'm blessed.

It's interesting to note too that as smart, likeable, warm, loving...etc Jesus is, He isn't liked by everyone. In fact, most people hate him. During His days on earth, He was called names, ridiculed, stones were thrown (at least Bush got only shoes!) and in the end murdered and betrayed.

So if the best man on earth can be hated to such levels, what more me, a mere mortal? Furthermore, I'm far far from perfection.

Someone told me recently that at any one time, chances are, 1/3 of the ppl like us, 1/3 hate us, and 1/3 are undecided. Our job is to convince the 1/3 of undecision to come to our side. Math wise, it looks simple and logical. Still our hearts want to be love by everyone. Perhaps my pride is way too big to acknowledge that 66.6% of the world out there can't be bothered about what I'm saying or hate what I'm saying. Being rejected by 66.6% or 4 billion people isn't a good feeling. Imagine 4 billion rotten tomatoes coming at me!

But that is reality. Especially for us who are gifted (even less ppl understand us!) . Who can understand Galileo when he said that the world is round? (He should have just gone to China, they already knew) Who can understand Picasso when he drew those 'ugly' pictures? Who can understand Warren Buffet when he buys when everyone is selling? Who can understand Paul when he talked about the Gospel of Grace?

These men 'see' in their mind's eye.... who can understand Jesus when He said, " Believing is seeing but seeing is not believing". These men are seldom liked when they are alive. They could see where we could not and because of that they are rejected. Are they right? For sure. Are they liked? Not really.

And we are all gifted in our own ways. I can't see what you see, but I can allow you to express that which you see. And if I can do just that, you will feel and know that the love I show you is genuine - then you and I will both feel accepted. My life will also be made richer by your gifts to me. What a wonderful world that will be.