I am writing this article just a few days before Halloween. I know that many even now are trying to decide upon "what they will be" come this Saturday night. I also know that even come Sunday, too many people will still be living dressed in full costume having not been given permission that it is OK to live life without having to have a mask on. Something about that make believe face brings a feigned peace and comfort, but it does nothing more than cover up who they really are underneath the entire facade and the pretend.
Why do we lose our uniqueness along the way and buy into the lie that it is better to play a role in life than allow ourselves to be authentic enough to live with the genuine us on the surface? I believe it is mostly because we have been battered and hurt along the road of life. Some of us get so wounded, that we use all of our energy and begin to fight the wrong battle. And at the root of that war game comes the inner strategy that vows, “I am going to bury myself so deep beneath the surface, you will never hurt me again.” Unfortunately, the whole scheme backfires from the inauguration, because when we don’t live from the strength of our own personality, from the origin of truly being the person that we were created and designed to be, we end up killing ourselves!
Along my journey, many individuals have attached various labels to attempt to define my existence. Over the years, among other things, I have been called,
“Teacher’s Pet,” “Goody, Goody,” “Dreamer Boy,” “Excellent Student,”
“Good Kid,” “Quiet,” “Baseball Fanatic,” “Fresh,” “Awkward,” “Independent,”
“Oldest Son,” “Responsible,” “Leader,” “Loud,” “Nuts,” “Charismatic,” “Christian,”
“Jesus Freak,” “Pastor,” “Emotional Roller Coaster,” “Maverick Boy,”
“Lone Ranger,” “Enthusiastic,” “Passionate,” “Husband,” “Daddy,” “Coach,” “Difficult,” “Intense,” and “Creative.”
Now some of those terms truly define who I really am. Others are perceptions that haven’t been as accurate but if that is what the crowds expect, there is a great temptation to cower and give the people what they want. But I believe the true challenge of life is to not lose your true identity in all of the hoopla. Somewhere beneath all of the definitions and suggestions is the true you and the true me. Knowing who we really are and being whom we were designed and created to be is one of the biggest battles we must determine to win in our lifetimes. There is something very powerful about a man and a woman who knows who he or she is. There is something very freeing about being able to say, “I know who I am and I know why I am here and nothing is going to hold me back from being and doing what I have been destined to accomplish with my years here on earth.”
Here is the truth I want you to tuck away in your mind so it can penetrate to your soul. Nobody can take away the identity God has given you except you choose to throw it away. How do we throw it away? Every time we acquiesce and make the internal decision to play a role or go through the motions rather than attack life by putting our true us, our real us forward! Now you may be saying, “Rudy, I have been hurt way too many times to ever live like that and I have determined to not be hurt again.” But I am here to tell you that the very choice to daily put a mask on and wear a costume causes greater damage than whatever could be done to you from the outside. I am also here to tell you that no matter what the world may say, God likes who you really are because that is the person He designed with His very own hands. I am not talking about the rough edges and the sinful behavior that needs His Hand of salvation to redeem. I am talking about the essence of the architectural plans that when all was said and done created you to be the masterpiece you were intended to be and the worst thing you could ever do is try to cover up the Mona Lisa with a fresh coat of crayon!
Nobody can take away the identity that God has given you, nobody! Oh there will be days that you will be duped into thinking otherwise. Several years ago, when I was returning from Colorado, I somehow lost my drivers license while I was in the Denver airport. Have you tried to get on an airplane these days without picture identification in your possession? I would hardly recommend it. Yet, I had no choice. The plane was boarding for Jersey and I had no written proof I was who I claimed to be. Even though I was treated rather harshly and overly careful, I kept insisting that I was Rudy Sheptock and even said at one point, “It is not the piece of paper that makes me who I am; I’m still me.” Obviously, I was convincing enough because I made it through on the evidence of my personality alone.
While I was on the plane, I heard God speak to my soul with these words,
“Rudy, nobody can steal your name from you. No one can ever take away the identity that I have given you. Do not look to pieces of paper for the proof of who you are. Always look up to Me. And then look inside and trust your heart that I now dwell in. And with a gleam in your eye and with confidence proclaim boldly, I am Rudy Sheptock, Jr., a one of a kind original designed and loved by God.”
Not having my license didn’t stop me from getting home. It could not rob me from being me. Hence, God has already given each and every one of us all that we need to get home. God has already provided you with the necessary equipment to complete the task of you being you! Don’t waste your time or throw away your talent depending on or trusting in anything else. And please, if you still are wearing your mask after this Halloween is over, please- it is time to take it off and never put it on again!
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