Good thing I found my self in the Lost and Found box...

What does it mean when someone says "I just need to find myself"? Usually, I hear it after someone talks about breaking up with their boyfriend or taking a break from school. Certainly, I understand that there are circumstances in life that sometimes make us feel as if we can't be ourselves. But if we there are times when, by contrast, we are ourselves, does that mean we are found? Can someone truly "find" him/herself?

I would hate to wake up one morning and exclaim, "GAHHHH! Where did I go? I just put myself here last night..." At what point are we technically lost, or for that matter, found? Is it really fair to put so much emphasis on our life situations as the motivations behind how we act or think? 

There was a time in my life when I felt very uncomfortable in my own skin (Actually still do at times:-)). It was easy to blame peer pressure for the reason I constantly sinned against my parents and acted foolishly. However, I now realize that the inward motivations were what really caused me to do what I did. It's like a Jeremiah 17:9 sort of thing.

To bring this full circle, if our-"selves" are the parts deep down inside of us, are true identities if you will, then they can never really be lost. By lost I mean in the most un-metaphorical sense possible. It is quite true that the unbeliever's "self" is lost in terms of their relationship to God. What I mean to say is the whole notion of "losing yourself" or having no power to control the way you act based on another person or event, is phooey.

Phake

Phoney

Phaloney

I would like to say that I do not endorse relationships with people that tempt (notice I didn't say "cause") you to act like someone you're not. However, life happens. You may end up with a Mother-in-law who makes you want to beat cute, furry woodland animals with an aluminum baseball bat. Does this give you the right to act "different" from the way you would treat a cute, furry woodland animal? No. You must still respect, honor, and love her in all humility! (Yes, humility-yipes!)

Instead of "not being true to yourself" or "losing yourself," you must put on the love of Christ. Actually, the  main point of this all, is that our true selves are gross. It's a good thing that I "lose" myself when I embrace Christ and His Lordship. Naturally, my personality is still allowed to come through once it has passed through the filter of God's word.

So the next time you hear someone say, "(S)He was, like, totally making me a different person. I had to break up so I could just, like, find myself," first correct him on his poor command of the English language, then say, "Actually, it's a Jeremiah 17:9 thing."

-I would like to quickly thank the Tripp dudes for consistently pointing everything back to the heart.

-Also, my man, Jeremiah, who kept it real. Fo sho. Please read- I promise you won't be the same.