I was speaking with a friend the other day about how I liked a newly released movie. I found myself saying, “Oh, you know, it wasn’t a bad movie. I didn’t dislike it. There were just things missing.
The connection between “this and that” was unclear. The characters were under developed. Why didn’t they bring out“so-and-so’s” character and show why she was so “such and such?” It would have added so much more depth and substance to the film. The movie left me frustrated. The build up was powerful. It had some of my favorite performers in it. It had great backing- great producers. But the story line was under developed. There was potential for a lot more to be told that just wasn’t told. I would have preferred to walk out and say it was a bad movie as opposed to saying it was good but not complete. It had the potential to be so much more.”
I found myself becoming really passionate about my amateur reviews because as I spoke, internally I was no longer just talking about a film. My mind had just switched over to life in general. I got to thinking, isn’t that how our lives have been at certain times-lacking connection-remaining under developed while remaining full of potential to change the world around us. Uggggggggh!
Ok. I hear you saying, “Wendy, how (or why) do you always end up with those kinds of thoughts? Chill out.” But it’s in me. I can’t help it. It’s part of who I am. Helping people recognize the potential inside of them- helping folks move beyond mediocrity, beyond hurt and beyond pain- to reach beyond to something greater is part of my mission and part of the reason why I have struggled with it myself. Under developed potential sticks out at me like a sore thumb. It frustrates me- especially when I see it in my own life.
Ok- so I have all this potential on the inside of me, right? I’m created by Greatness for greatness, right? I know I’m supposed to be more and do more? I know I’m supposed to impact lives and help change my world, right? Well, how do I do it? How do I develop and walk in my potential? How do I live out my full story? How do I get out of me what is in me? How do I turn my knowledge and desires into results?
I know I write this a lot but I guess I have to keep reminding myself that the first connection that we have to make that will help us honestly identify and walk in who we really are is the connection with God. He is the Creator. One day I was working with a young kid. He drew a picture. I looked at the picture and said, “Wow, that’s a nice picture of a house! You did good!” I was trying to compliment his work, build up his esteem…you know. However, I had to laugh when he told me, “That’s not a house. It’s a spaceship with a lot of rooms- getting ready to fly into the sky and go to space. It’ll be the first spaceship that will land on all the planets before it returns to earth.” I saw a box shaped figure with windows, doors and what looked like a chimney. Surely it is a house. I saw a house. He saw something else. He saw something greater. He knew what it was because he drew it. He created it. I can make assumptions but only the creator can accurately define what he created.
So often we (as well as other people) see things in our lives and we think we know what it is and then we base our life’s decisions around what we think it is. What would happen if we consult the Creator first? Whew, I wonder what would happen if we actually took time to get to know our Creator– no, I’m for real. I’m not just talking about knowing “of Him,” but knowing Him. It is in knowing Him that allows us to know us. Sit in His presence, read His word, ask Him questions, talk to Him about your life. “God, teach me about Your love and Your greatness. Teach me about Your character, so that I may know my own. God, what is it that You want from me? What am I supposed to do? Lord, how do I trust You?” As we get to know Him, as we spend time with Him, as we inquire of Him- something incredible happens– Our lives begin to take on more substance and depth. We form new revelations about who God is and what He purposed us for. Ephesians 2:10 (Amplified) states,
“For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), [a]recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].”
Another thing- Imagine you walk into a darkened room. You have a light bulb in your hand. You know that light bulb has the ability to provide the light needed for that room. You know it was made for that purpose. But it doesn’t do any good in your hand. You can yell at it, “Light the room! Turn on!!!! Let there be light!!!!!!!” But you’ll stand there frustrated because no light will appear. It doesn’t matter how great the wattage is, it will remain unlit. You have got to take that light bulb and connect it to its source of power before any light will shine.
I can stand and yell at myself, “Wendy, shine! Wendy, be great!!! Let there be…” but it won’t do any good if I have not connected with my source of power. I will stand in frustration. I will never experience, be or produce all that I am supposed to without connecting with my source of power. What a shame. My ability to “be” hasn’t changed but I won’t generate results because I didn’t connect with my source of power. It doesn’t matter how great I know I can be, I’ll be just a unlit bulb. I must connect with my source. He is full of power! I have to connect with God who knows His plans for me (Jeremiah 29:11).
It’s time to really connect to God. Some of us have been in church all our lives but never really connected to God. We connect with religion. We connect with protocol. We connect with the Pastor. We connect with people. We connect with the ideas of greatness, but never fully connect with God Himself. We know how to look, act and sound connected but…
Ok, I see this is going to be an ongoing topic here. I know I’m not done. We’ll just call this “Part One.”
Until next time, Stay encouraged and in God’s presence.
Wendy M. Reynolds
