Your Popular Story : What Others Say about You
Robert McKee Said that "Stories are the currency of human contact". In context, this quote is a sentiment toward a more meaningful experience with each other. As much as I appreciate that thought, I have found that most of us misinterpret, misunderstand and misuse each others stories. We are usually not evaluated by those around us with an accurate assessment of who we really are. This can work in a both directions; We generally either glamorize of minimize one another. Like most relationally destructive behaviors, the root of this issue is usually insecurity. Once again, this travels in both directions; The insecure project false images of themselves and they also think falsely about others.
A great example of this is found in Numbers 13 and 14. This is the story of the spies who explored the promise land an their reaction to the challenges. Eleven of the thirteen spies were incredibly fearful (insecure) and they gave this blunt report: Numbers 13:33b - "We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes and we looked the same to them. This is a very telling sentence in that it decides both sides of the story. It says that we are inadequate (we seemed like grasshoppers) and that others see us that way as well (we looked the same to them). You see, the insecure always underestimate their own value and they often decide for themselves what others must think. When we do this, we do not give our story a chance at an accurate representation. Other forms of this come the way of false fronts and even out right lies about personal condition. This is an epidemic among people of faith as we try to impress each other and stay on par with false images of growth and success.
The answer to this dilemma is found in rejecting the ways of Egypt (your past) and moving on to the next chapter of the story. God is still writing in your life and He deserves for you to not edit the work that He is is creating. Let him heal hurts and speak to your fears so you can act out your story with confidence. I want to be like Calob and Joshua in Numbers 13 who interpreted the information gathered in the best possible way. They exuded faith and optimism and this was not just in God or themselves, they actually believed in those around them. How others perceive your story probably has a lot to do with whether or not you believe in theirs.
This weekend I am doing a 3 service life conference in Appleton WI. I will report on this and my other busy travels for next week in a couple of days. Thanks so much for your interest and prayers.
Pray for our Teams!
A great example of this is found in Numbers 13 and 14. This is the story of the spies who explored the promise land an their reaction to the challenges. Eleven of the thirteen spies were incredibly fearful (insecure) and they gave this blunt report: Numbers 13:33b - "We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes and we looked the same to them. This is a very telling sentence in that it decides both sides of the story. It says that we are inadequate (we seemed like grasshoppers) and that others see us that way as well (we looked the same to them). You see, the insecure always underestimate their own value and they often decide for themselves what others must think. When we do this, we do not give our story a chance at an accurate representation. Other forms of this come the way of false fronts and even out right lies about personal condition. This is an epidemic among people of faith as we try to impress each other and stay on par with false images of growth and success.
The answer to this dilemma is found in rejecting the ways of Egypt (your past) and moving on to the next chapter of the story. God is still writing in your life and He deserves for you to not edit the work that He is is creating. Let him heal hurts and speak to your fears so you can act out your story with confidence. I want to be like Calob and Joshua in Numbers 13 who interpreted the information gathered in the best possible way. They exuded faith and optimism and this was not just in God or themselves, they actually believed in those around them. How others perceive your story probably has a lot to do with whether or not you believe in theirs.
This weekend I am doing a 3 service life conference in Appleton WI. I will report on this and my other busy travels for next week in a couple of days. Thanks so much for your interest and prayers.
Pray for our Teams!
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