Sometimes it seems that we all walk around wearing tee shirts that say

 

“Affirm me, Please, Affirm me”.

 

We are so hungry for affirmation from one another.  I wear my tee shirt too -on most days.  We find ourselves needing to tell people what we have done or experienced, purchased or seen.  “Aren’t I special?  Don’t you just wish that you were me?”  The question is there – between the lines, begging to be asked.   The problem is, we all want to receive affirmation but we are very stingy when it comes to giving it so while that poor person is talking AT me telling me how wonderful they are, I find myself thinking about what story I am going to counteract with. And so the ball bounces back and forth from one court to the other, never really landing for long.  And so we wander through life, constantly searching for the love and affirmation that we hunger for.

 

Then perhaps some wonderful day we experience new birth- our eyes are opened to the truth of who Jesus Christ is and we “get it!”  We comprehend!  Maybe we even receive a huge amount of affirmation from people- new people- they seem to like me- value me.  They think I have gifts and talents and they want me to join in their activities.  And it feels so glorious, so amazing!  Maybe we have never felt so wanted and accepted before.

 

But then after a while, the affirmation starts to wear thin and we find that they have expectations of us.  They want us to serve and give, work alongside them.  They tell us what they think we need to do to “grow”. 

 

So, the truth is out.  I am not loved and valued just as I am.  The love and affirmation is performance based, conditional, just like all the other love I have ever known.  Or is it?

Is this just another club?  A support group?  A service oriented group?

 

Or is it the most amazing place on the planet?  Could it be a safe place with deep rich soil that I could sink my roots into and could I find the nutrients- the ingredients of life that I need?  Could I heal from the past damage to my soul and bloom here?

 

I would have to be vulnerable to even risk finding out.