I saw a church sign yesterday as I was out and about. This is what it said:
"God gave us Real Eyes to Realize Where Real Lies."
Where Real Lies. Now there's an interesting discussion just waiting to happen. In light of my most recent post about Charlie Sheen, he clearly has had a difficult time of late realizing where "real lies" in more ways than the obvious. But then there's the waitress in town who doesn't understand why all men are so "stupid" and abusive. Or the physician who doesn't view his own illegal drug use as "any big deal" because he knows where the "line" is. There are so many of us, everywhere, who have no clue where "Real Lies" in relation to certain aspects of our life and relationships.
Discovering where real lies in your own life can begin quite simply. Just start asking those you love and care about what they think. About you. About your lifestyle choices. About your character. About your offensive and/or disturbing patterns of behavior. Look at it this way: most of us are great at pursuing an "up periscope" relational style. That means we can usually spot all kinds of things we perceive as "wrong" or "unhealthy" in others---because that's just easier to do than looking into the mirror. Now I am NOT suggesting that you talk to one person and that's all you need to do. The key is talking to several of your friends, family, loved ones...and then identify for yourself what "common" issues and/or problems they have brought up to you as a whole.
A great example is the individual who struggles with an eating disorder. How many times do you have to be told you are "way too skinny" and "don't eat enough" before you realize where "real lies" in your own life? Twice? Ten times? A hundred times? Get real with yourself. If more than one important person in your life has said something about your anxiety...or your drinking..or your anger...HELLO! Time to realize with your real eyes what is going on!
Just because time passes and you don't do anything about a problem you are having does NOT mean that problem will eventually fade to black. Reality is not like that. Instead, the reality of how that problem is adversely affecting you(and others!) is always made clear sooner or later.
ADD (Attention deficit disorder) is another great example. Did you know that undiagnosed and untreated ADD or ADHD is one of the three things death row inmates have in common? Yikes! The other two things are an abuse history and brain injury (regardless of how that injury occurred). Wow. Think about that for a minute. What we refuse to look at as potentially harmful or destructive...WILL eventually become harmful and destructive in one way or another.
Just look at Charlie Sheen. And Anna Nicole Smith. And Bernie Madoff. And Aileen Wournos. And the list goes on and on....
Until next time...
