Books

The Search for Significance: Chapter One - The Light Comes On

From the book:

Many of us are hurt emotionally, relationally, and spiritually, but because we are unaware of the extent of our wounds, we don’t take steps toward healing and health. Our problem is not stupidity but a lack of objectivity.

The author suggests that there are a variety of reasons for this lack, ranging from thinking our situation is “normal,” to trying to be in control, to protecting others (like our parents). But regardless of the reasons, we tend to “develop elaborate defense mechanisms to block pain and gain significance.

Several of the examples hit home for me: compulsive perfectionism (well, when I bother); driving myself to succeed; helping people to feel appreciated; trying to say “the right thing” to be accepted.

Too bad this chapter is mostly just casting light on the problem, rather than telling me (in just five easy steps!) how to fix myself (though obviously that very suggestion shows how much is wrong with me). However, I found this encouraging:

Experiencing His love does not mean that all of our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors will be pleasant and pure. It means that we can be real, feeling pain and joy, love and anger, confidence and confusion.

Well, I guess that might not sound encouraging, but I like the idea of being authentic even in the worst parts of life. And speaking of the worst parts…

…Paul instructs us to put on the armor of God so that we can be equipped for spiritual battle. However, it often seems that unsuspecting believers are the last to know this battle is occuring, and they don’t know that Christ has ultimately won the war. They are suprised and confused by difficulties, thinking that the Christian life is a playground, not a battlefield.

That’s a point that I agree most of us miss. There’s a lot of confusion about what the point of being a Christian is. I think I’ve ranted before about the perception that being a Christian is about being a good person. To actually follow Christ is a harder task (well, at least when compared to looking like a good person), but I have this idea that it’s deeply tied in with our self-perceptions, too.

I’m looking forward to the “practical” parts of the book.

© 2006 Something Epic.