Get to Know Yourself.

Tonight, I am here to answer the question, "Who am I"? a question we all ask. Think I can't answer it? Well I can. So there.

For the past five hours or so, I've been researching various celebrities in the film and theater spheres. Of course the terms "top ten --- " do not necessarily yield absolute results, but at least they pointed me in a generally good direction. After watching interviews of Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep and the like, I began to glimpse characteristics that were very simple, un-sophisticated and perhaps childish. These people just loved what they did, and yet there they are -- the glimmering pinnacles of the giant studios and institutions, larger than the average life of the average American wannabe.

And I thought,

"What am I going to be great at someday?"

It's never been a question of "will I?" but rather "what?". From some strange place I find an overwhelming optimism and self confidence. Though deterred at times by my stupidity, timidity or clumsy bravado (which has resulted in some less than "great" circumstances), confidence always has a way of popping up to save my day. If one were to catch a few sentences of my self-talk, it would go a little something like:

***WE JOIN "AMY'S MIND", ALREADY IN PROGRESS***

"-and of course I'll eventually be some acclaimed such-and-such. I feel it in my bones."

"And it's not for selfish reasons at all... in fact, my main reason for becoming whatever-it-is is simply to touch the lives of more people in a positive way... right?"

"Yes. Right. Now how to get there..."

"But where?"

"I DON'T KNOW! That's the whole reason I'm consulting you! THAT, AND THE FACT THAT I'M BEGINNING TO QUESTION MY INTENTIONS! Oh what do you care. Go conjure up some ridiculous memory of a dream you once had!

"FINE! I'll just leave you to Google meaningless searches like "is mayonnaise healthy?" or maybe "biggest celebrity feet"!!!!

"Hmph!"

"Hmph!"

-Silence-

"I did make a YouTube video the other day... It has 43 hits now."

"Oh splendid! I'm sure it'll be up to 1043 by next Summer!"

***

See what I mean? It's the reason I tend to promote things like it's goin' outta style. When I sense opportunity that jives with my current desires, I tell the whole globe! WITH A MEGAPHONE!

Hence, this blog.

So who are we anyways? And what are we going to do?

1) First, remind yourself that you are a human being. This alone can be difficult to admit, for the world would have us believe ourselves to be gods and goddesses, or on the alternative, animals. Fine then, what's a human being? Well, it's basically a thing that isn't just a thing. It's a person derived from the One who is beginning and ending, who is life and life-giver, and who creates. Why did he create us? Because He can. Because He's Him, and He is Love. To glorify Him. Really, I can't even begin to answer that question, just know that He loves you and wants you. The main thing is to get over the fear of this, and to humble yourself, because that's where all the trouble began in the first place, which leads on to number --

2) Apart from God, you're a damaged good. This is a result of us deciding that we are God. The problem is, we don't understand who we are, therefore, our "God" does not know what we should do nor can he help us find our answers. Sin makes no sense, God DOES make sense. Soooooo.... the only way to understand ourselves is to understand God.

3) Quit thinking so individually. I'm not suggesting for you to go on the extreme and simply follow the crowd because it's a crowd, but you need to realize that God created humans to interact with Him, and with each other. The analogy used in the Bible says it best: "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." - 1 Cor 12:27. When we fall in love with God and accept what he has for us by choosing to cast away our old selves, God takes us into His family and we are no longer bound for the punishment we had coming. Not only that, God begins to heal our hearts and minds so we can understand Him, so we can love Him, so we can love others, so we can understand ourselves. Interact with your fellow members on a deep level if you can. And treat those who don't know/understand Christ with the same manner that Christ offered to you, because we all have fallen short of the glory of God. My personal ambitions and worries keep me from doing the holy philanthropy that my soul craves because where there is pride there is no love. You do not exist to be alone.

4) Make it a number one priority to get to know God better.

5) Listen and be obedient. The closer you are to God, the better you will be at discerning His voice.

6) Be patient. Life is not a microwave, it's a seed and sunshine and plenty of water and time. Why is it this way? Time is an illusion, or rather a temporary barrier. When you operate by broken methods, time exists because you have limits. God has no limits. However, he does have order, and so there will be seasons in life. "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." - Ecclesiasties 3:1. God is always on the move, so if something in your life calls for patience, realize that you need to switch gears.

7) Ask Him. Don't know what to do? Have a frustration? Need something? Ask. He'll answer. It amazes me how He cares. The other night I got a flat tire. I'm not too rich, and so I started to worry a bit because the tire was toast. Also, it was cold and dark, and those lug nuts were tight. All I think was think in my head, "God, can you send someone?" And in about 45 seconds a man from a local church showed up, put on my donut for me, provided some interesting conversation about some connections he had in the film industry and gave me a free spare tire. Now, are all prayers answered like this? Eh... no. Some take years because of other unseen things. But the Teacher knows best, and he's more than willing to help.

Anyways, it's 8:24pm, and I really need to make a sandwich now. Now that all your problems are solved and questions are answered, I think I can pull myself from my computer. As for my destiny? Who knows. I still think that my interests in acting, music and film will stay with me. And, I still feel confident in the horizon, but I need to work on where I'm drawing my confidence from.... aka I need to stop relying so much on me and more on Him. I think that's why He answered my prayer like He did with the tire incident. Sounds like something He would do... (by the way, He has a great sense of humor).

Take care.