This past weekend CVC ended an amazing series on "Essentials". At the end of the message there was a special song, and a series of people (including my husband and myself) came out on stage one at a time and used pieces of cardboard to tell part of their testimony... One side of the cardboard said who they 'were' in Christ or their past pain and sin while the other side was who they 'are' in Christ now that they've found forgiveness and grace.
Regardless of our testimony, the entire weekend was full of pain and hope, struggles and encouragement, sorrows and joys. I was moved by the number of people on stage sharing their past pains, some for the very first time. I was drawn to tears by the losses and heartaches on those pieces of cardboard, and then to sobs as I read their hopes and healings that only the one true God can give.
It hit me today that those pieces of cardboard removed the plastic smiles that many of us wear every day. Those plastic smiles of "I'm fine" when on the inside we're screaming that we can't take it anymore, or wondering if people can tell who we really are, what we've really done, what heartaches and hurts we've experienced...and if they would still like us if they knew the truth. After this weekend, I'd have to say YES - whatever that plastic smile is hiding, the truth on the cardboard sets us all free. Isn't that what God tells us in His word- that the truth shall set us free? (John 8:32) Not only do I feel free because of the honesty I've laid out there about who I am (at least in one particular area of my life), but the others who stood up and put their truths out there have given me permission to be honest with them, too. It's a give and take- If we give honesty, we can expect to receive it back. We don't have to rehash the past or go into details...we've all been through something that we're not too proud of. But we can be honest with each other, lifting each other up, encouraging each other through our past and present pain...
What's on your cardboard behind the plastic smile??
Monday, September 29, 2008
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Monday, September 29, 2008
Cardboard Testimonies and Plastic Smiles
This past weekend CVC ended an amazing series on "Essentials". At the end of the message there was a special song, and a series of people (including my husband and myself) came out on stage one at a time and used pieces of cardboard to tell part of their testimony... One side of the cardboard said who they 'were' in Christ or their past pain and sin while the other side was who they 'are' in Christ now that they've found forgiveness and grace.
Regardless of our testimony, the entire weekend was full of pain and hope, struggles and encouragement, sorrows and joys. I was moved by the number of people on stage sharing their past pains, some for the very first time. I was drawn to tears by the losses and heartaches on those pieces of cardboard, and then to sobs as I read their hopes and healings that only the one true God can give.
It hit me today that those pieces of cardboard removed the plastic smiles that many of us wear every day. Those plastic smiles of "I'm fine" when on the inside we're screaming that we can't take it anymore, or wondering if people can tell who we really are, what we've really done, what heartaches and hurts we've experienced...and if they would still like us if they knew the truth. After this weekend, I'd have to say YES - whatever that plastic smile is hiding, the truth on the cardboard sets us all free. Isn't that what God tells us in His word- that the truth shall set us free? (John 8:32) Not only do I feel free because of the honesty I've laid out there about who I am (at least in one particular area of my life), but the others who stood up and put their truths out there have given me permission to be honest with them, too. It's a give and take- If we give honesty, we can expect to receive it back. We don't have to rehash the past or go into details...we've all been through something that we're not too proud of. But we can be honest with each other, lifting each other up, encouraging each other through our past and present pain...
What's on your cardboard behind the plastic smile??
Regardless of our testimony, the entire weekend was full of pain and hope, struggles and encouragement, sorrows and joys. I was moved by the number of people on stage sharing their past pains, some for the very first time. I was drawn to tears by the losses and heartaches on those pieces of cardboard, and then to sobs as I read their hopes and healings that only the one true God can give.
It hit me today that those pieces of cardboard removed the plastic smiles that many of us wear every day. Those plastic smiles of "I'm fine" when on the inside we're screaming that we can't take it anymore, or wondering if people can tell who we really are, what we've really done, what heartaches and hurts we've experienced...and if they would still like us if they knew the truth. After this weekend, I'd have to say YES - whatever that plastic smile is hiding, the truth on the cardboard sets us all free. Isn't that what God tells us in His word- that the truth shall set us free? (John 8:32) Not only do I feel free because of the honesty I've laid out there about who I am (at least in one particular area of my life), but the others who stood up and put their truths out there have given me permission to be honest with them, too. It's a give and take- If we give honesty, we can expect to receive it back. We don't have to rehash the past or go into details...we've all been through something that we're not too proud of. But we can be honest with each other, lifting each other up, encouraging each other through our past and present pain...
What's on your cardboard behind the plastic smile??
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