I love being Writer Dad because he is an idealized version of who my wife and children see, but Sean is human and makes the same mistakes as everybody else.

Great post guys.

<abbr>Sean´s last spectacular blog post..The Best Writer on the Net</abbr>

It is an interesting thing, when you have these experiences. I am an engineer by trade, yet, I seem to be able to initiate these conversations with almost anyone.

I’ve done some of those personality tests and the results seem to indicate my strengths are elsewhere, the more human and emotional side (like a counselor of some kind, perhaps). Never too late to change careers

Brett Legree´s last spectacular blog post..a perfect storm.

@J.D. – Once we get over the fear of being truly “real” – I think you are right, J.D. – there is power and strength that comes from this. It may be inner power and strength – where we are able to really hold true to our convictions – and this is powerful in itself. Thanks for stopping by!

@Brett – I’m sure there is much more here, yet what you’ve shared really did paint the picture of what was going on – I appreciate your openness. And a great example of the “how are you? fine” typical response. That’s a good connection you had going on – and it makes me think about how one question like this, to the right person – really can trigger a conversation and build a connection between two people where there previously was none – all by one question, and some heartfelt listening.

@Wendi – The play you did really does fit how we live our lives sometimes. And “real” becomes distorted as – which is the real you? And do we really need to do this – to switch back and forth depending upon who we’re talking to? If we’re truly being real, then no we should just be who we are. And thank you, Wendi, for sharing part of your story. If we are working toward the life God desires for us, then we’re moving in the right direction. If we’re being real while we’re doing this, then how much more meaningful life is for us! God is our light in the world, and He shines brightly! Thank you for all of this Wendi – your words continue to bring comfort and provide light in the darkness…

Lance´s last spectacular blog post..Are These My Skinny Jeans?

great post. John and I did a play about this subject a few months ago at Church. It was about a man in his office on the phone. On one line was a very important business deal that he was NOT going to lose. He was speaking harshly ,wheeling and dealing, using rough language and pushing the person around. On the other line, was the Paster of his church, and he was quoting scripture to his pasture and discussing the upcoming sermon that next week. The two messages that he was giving to the two different men were the opposite and of course he got the phone lines mixed up at the end! It was a comedy that forced everyone to look at the way we switch back and forth between the various roles in our lives.

I live in the same small town I have lived in since I was a little girl. My sins have been been right there for all the world to see for 48 years. drug use when I was a kid, teen pregnancy, marriages and divorce…whatever. The point is you wake up every day and God gives us the chance to start over, look into his LIGHT, Praise him and say- HE is Perfect, I am NOT, I don’t have to be, I just have to keep working TOWARD it and not give up the good fight. Thank God he is there to catch me when I fall cause I am clumsy.

Wendi Kelly- Life’s Little Inspirations´s last spectacular blog post..Inspired Movies

Very happy to share our story – of course, there is much more to it, but that little snippet seemed appropriate.

Yes, do give it a shot – just today, I asked a lady at the cafeteria, “how is your day going today?” – and she told me all about her planned trip next week to Australia. We had a really nice chat about that part of the world (I’ve not been to Oz, but my wife has family there, and we’ve gone to New Zealand).

It was much nicer than the “how are you? fine” thing.

-Brett

Brett Legree´s last spectacular blog post..viking mondays? courage.

I like the power and strength that comes from keeping things real. All that really means to me is simply not trying to sustain things that are fake.

J.D. Meier´s last spectacular blog post..Avoid Mental Burnout

Whether someone calls it sin or doing the wrong thing, there are behaviors that are wrong. Christians call these sin. You can call it whatever you want but the purpose of confessing them to God, (or others) is to free yourself from them. As Christians, we confess our sins to God as a way of agreeing that what we did wasn’t right and then we give it over to God and ask for forgiveness. It is a way to not carry the baggage with us all our lives. A little grace goes a long way.

I also love to be real. The last job I had didn’t work out because I was who I am and didn’t fit their mold of who they thought I should be. Should I always be real? Yes. I should always be myself but that doesn’t mean I should always share personal information. If I am an outgoing person, I shouldn’t act shy to gain approval. If I am a Christian, I should hide my faith because someone might be offended. It doesn’t mean I go preaching to everyone but I will not hide my beliefs either. I think you can real but not be vulnerable. There is more to being real than just exposing yourself. Take Lance for instance. Lance has been real on his blog. He believes everything he professes to believe. Here though, he was more vulnerable in that he shared some things in his closet. He is real in both places but more vulnerable in this place.

Dot, your comment gave me lots to think about, thanks for that. Have a “real”ly great day! (tongue in cheek)

You’ve given me something to think about. Thank you.

@Brett It works well, doesn’t it? I hate hearing “fine,” though I’m not always patient enough to listen to a laundry list. :/

B J Keltz´s last spectacular blog post..Zap!

Lance,
I am catholic but mainly because it was a religion chosen for me at my birth. I am spiritual but not in a religious way.

I love your ‘confession’. And you know what? If you find ONE person that is NOT guilty of all of your bullet points, give me a call because I must come over and see this for myself. I sure am guilty of that behavior. But realizing that it’s not our best behavior is already a step in the right direction. It does not make us a bad person. It makes us human.

We are being taught a certain behavior from early childhood on: this is good and this is bad. Boys are told they need to be strong and crying is for babies so they end up being men with a macho side and unable to show they real feelings.

Girls a being taught that roughhousing is not ladylike so the become women who have trouble standing up for and taking care of themselves.

So I think that all this ‘bad’ but oh so real behavior we have is us when were children trying to come out and say: look at you! Will you let this happen? Will you let someone else dictate how you should feel, what you should be? Will you let other people’s judgements affect you in a deconstructive way?

As long as we communicate with the ones we love about our behavior and try to learn from it we’re on the right track. I am sure your wife knows your selfish pride by now and more than likely knows how to handle it because she knows it will pass.

Thanks for sharing. The real you is better than any fake.

Mindful Mimi´s last spectacular blog post..Information: a source of learning or a burden?

@Davina – Thank you, Davina. Your words are both humbling and comforting. This was hard to write, and harder yet to send to Jamie. What I’m hearing here – that is making this all okay. I’m not perfect, I never have been – and that’s just fine…

@Brett – I may just try that – “How’s your day going?” – and see what response I get. A slight twist might be enough to elicit what is really going on, and generate some real and honest discussion. And, thanks for sharing the rest of the story about the parking lot. While I can’t imagine what losing a child is like – I do know that in times of need, the assistance of freinds/family/strangers is greatly appreciated. And when we experience moments like that, connections do get stronger. What’s interesting is that as we look at this – how many people could be affected by this one small act. And not for the better. Which leads along something I wrote about earlier this week – the idea that no gesture is really a small gesture. We just never know what affect it may have downstream of us. Brett, thanks for sharing this very personal story, one which fits so well with being real.

@Audra – Just reading your words, I feel my heart pounding a little harder. Why? I think it’s because in what you’re asking – this does still challenge me. As okay as I feel right now with what I’ve written here (I’ve gotten to okay because of a caring and supportive community here) – it still feels so risky to continue to step out of these imaginary boundaries I’ve put up. Audra, your words here today DO challenge me – and thank you for that. I need to be challenged to step away from these walls… Just as Jamie challenged me with this. Thank you for all your encouragement, for everything…

@Mark – Well, yes that is true. We are real all the time. What are we hiding behind the mask? What imperfections do we not want to be seen? And how can we begin to accept those imperfections. “Be”ing – being our true selves – in God’s eyes, in our own eyes, in the eyes of everyone who sees us – getting to the point where these are all aligned, what a place to get to. Thanks, Mark, for these thoughts today – I have much to really think about here…

@Jewel – “Allowing” is such an important word in this conversation on “real”. In allowing ourselves to be real, to show our imperfections – we connect not only with our Father in heaven, also with those around us. I’m seeing that today, very strongly. Thank you, Jewel, for being “you”…

@Dot – Being real. That is that we do get angry sometimes. We all do. I’m not sure that real means you have to confess your sins to the world. It’s about not putting up those walls that shield a part of us. You bring up a good point, Dot, about if it’s always appropriate. I think I tend to agree with you that in some situations, maybe it’s best to keep a wall up and just move on. Hmm…that’s a tough one. Thank you, Dot, for making me really think about this in a little different light…

@Karl – Being judged, yes that’s the feelings I was having as I was sent this to Jamie. Being seen as different – will we not be accepted for who we are? And yet, as you say, people really are drawn to authenticity… Thanks, Karl, very much, for this.

@Jenny Mannion – Hi Jenny. I think we all have lapses. And yet, if we keep that bottled up, and everyone else keeps their lapses bottled up – no one realizes just how alike we are. Getting to the point of self love and self acceptance is a major step in really accepting who we are – just the way we are. Jenny, your words are too kind. It has been a joy and honor to get to know you, and you shine of real-ness yourself. Just like my friend, Jamie…

@Jennifer – …and I hide as well, Jennifer. I hide for fear of what others think. I hide because of embarrassment. I hide because I don’t fit a “norm”. I hide because I’m insecure. Yet, I can’t hide from Jesus. He sees…always. I’m sending a virtual pat on the head to your dog! The idea of your real life and your online life meshing – I think that’s an excellent point Jennifer. Maybe we can be working our way toward where we desire to be – and there’s a level of safety doing that online? It is a journey. And a journey worht being on. Jennifer, I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me on this journey, for your words of truth here, and for you being real and authentic in everything I’ve seen. Thank you.

Lance´s last spectacular blog post..As Real As It Gets