Are you the real McCoy ????

Last night I was watching Bishop Jakes speaking at Bishop Eddie Long's conference. He got on the topic of how people try to suck up to him. He mentioned that people feel that by being nice to him they really impress him. But what he said those people may not know is that he is always in observe mode, watching how they treat other people they feel are insignificant, people like the waiters, the drivers, the valets, cleaning people etc. He uses this as his bench mark to define a real leader. But didn't he just let out his secret for how people can impress him, which means that people may start to modify their behavior around him with the intentions of still getting close to him? The thing is some people are 'so good' that they feel that they can impress everyone with their synthetic personalities. But a genuine spirit is something people cannot fake. Colloquially speaking, "you either is or you ain't." Just ask a little child and they'll tell you by their actions when someone ain't "for real." Children just seem to know. If a child doesn't like you, you gotta check yourself. A child whose spirit is untainted that is.

The Jekyll and Hyde concept easily fit anyone who has a public persona and a private face that is completely different from each other. Granted we are all humans and as individuals we are all subject to human behavior but being two faced is a spiritual deformity. Imagine seeing someone with two faces, the gasps, the stares and reaction that will follow. It is usually the same reaction a two faced person will get when they are exposed. Consistency is the key in maintaining a 'one face' personality. I'm not talking about someone being moody sometimes but a pattern of behavior that defines an individual as such. Many people talk a good game but they can't walk the talk or when it comes to bell the cat, they can't back up what they say in a right spirit. The personality manifests itself usually with a defensive, confrontation vibe because both faces are at war to see who will come out on top. Sounds kinda crazy but that's human behavior for you. No wonder the story is told of the man who said the more he gets to know people the more he loves his dog. Empty barrel does make the most noise.

God made us all as unique individuals and framed us with personalities, some of which we inherited from that gene pool that belong to our parents. Some personality traits we develop along the way. We are who we are by nature and nurture and who we are can make us or break us. Who we are should come from that place inside of us where we live- a decent place, a pure place, a genuine place; a place from which to grow. Experiences ground us to become consistent. The lessons taught by life is to help mold us to become mature human beings; a complex process called human development. God expects us to grow as humans. When a child is born they are expected to go through the growth stages. This process shouldn't stop when we become adults. But some people just get stuck in the same space, stagnant. Stagnant is a negative word especially when used to describe this process- stale, dull, stunted etc. "When I was a child I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, now that I am a man/woman I put away childish things." One doesn't have to go to college to grow, it helps but the "school of hard knocks" will definitely force us all to grow up.

The reality of who we are is really wrapped up in this process. It is not so much about the destination, it is about the journey. I met a woman the other day who was having issues with her eighty four year old mother who is on her death bed. I knew God send this woman my way because I was just not in the mood to hear no body else's problems. I had my, "I got my own problem' face on but she just kept on going so I had to give in and just listen. I had to tell her what she probably didn't wanna hear but that was she couldn't change her mom and it was no use trying to change her on her death bed. She said Mom always wanted to be a diva to which I said Mom is dying just let her be! Mom didn't want to change and daughter didn't want to change either. Such a pity! Our real personality cannot come forth unless we yield to the process of growth through change because life has a way of tempering us. At this point one cannot be an imitator or a Jekyll and Hyde but the 'real McCoy' that do not have to pretend for anyone. Being 'for real' in the true sense of the term takes away the shroud of living under a facade that everyone has to dance to the beat of our drum because 'it is all about me!' Being for real means you're comfortable in your own skin and you make others better around you. It doesn't matter if anybody else sees. God sees and that's all that matters. But some people just can't do that. They have to find a way to always make it all about them. However people fail to realize that Someone is always watching- those all seeing eyes who intervene in the affairs of men. It is easy to fake people out but we can't fake God out. Man looks on people's appearances but God looks right at the heart of the matter. There is the saying that goes, "you see a man's face but you can't see his heart. " Thank God that He doesn't judges us the way others do or grant us the judgment that we really deserve, or even the way we judge others mercilessly.
Blessings