Obeying vs. Feeling

You don’t feel yourself into a way of acting you act yourself into a way of feeling…

which transforms you into the image of Christ.

“I was shy, and often shy people retreat into themselves, unknowingly giving the impression of unfriendly aloofness. In college, I began to realize that other people’s image of me did not match my image of myself. Those who did not know me well saw me as stern, aloof, and judgemental. Nobody told me so directly. Once I began to catch on, however, I was hit by the message from all sides.

This pains me deeply, because it was not true. I knew what was inside me. I was as aloof as a puppy dog. I was soft-hearted, if anything. I cared about people. I craved friendship.

I began to try to rewrite my life. I began consciously to say nice things to people, to let them know that I appreciated and liked them. I tried to act warmly. I began to hold my tongue when I had something to say that might be construed as critical or snobbish.

And I hated it. It felt horribly unnatural. I despised having to watch my words, having to mull over every interaction to see whether I had handled it well and got my message across. Why couldn’t I just be myself? I was, I suppose, a true child of the sixties: I believed that acting sincerely was enough. Now I felt that I was acting insincerely, putting on an act.

My changes did bring noticeably better results, though. People told me I was different. They told me I seemed warmer, happier. People opened up to me. People sought me out. I liked those differences. And I have found that I got used to the act I was putting on. Over months and years, it grew comfortable. Eventually, it became liberating. It became me.”

Tim Stafford

 “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 3:18