The Wonderful You
Some stories are better appreciated if understood as occurring in the juvenile life of the storytellers, not his adult self. Remember, adolescence is about digging out the gold in the goal. Before reading further please promise to do so.
I had become obsessed with the role of Tarzan as played by Johnny Weissmuller in movies. I had to try my best to replicate the role, “Me Tarzan.” I put on my belt, pulled a towel between my legs, tucked the ends under my belt in the front and back and let the ends flap over. It was a perfect loin cloth.
On Cemetery Road there were three pine trees growing in a row. The forthcoming action involved “Tarzan” getting in the top of tree number one, starting it to sway enough to project him to tree number two, and then number two propelling him to tree number three. The sway action was even better than imagined as it easily propelled Tarzan 6 or 8 feet to the top of tree number two. Looking good. The problem was Tarzan and the loin cloth were in different trees. The loin cloth was still at the top of tree number one. Oops. It got caught on tree number one.
Jane was nowhere around… fortunately. Unfortunately a funeral procession came by. Tarzan was frozen trying not to be seen. Evidently he was successful in avoiding sight or there would have been laughter even around the grave site.
Tarzan was mortified as he retrieved the towel, wrapped himself in it, and made his way home, resolute on never playing the role again.
The moral of the story: don’t pretend to be who you are not. If you do, you are sure to be exposed.
True joy is found in being the original you, not a pretentious counterfeit. God had something good in mind when he created you. Don’t deny it by pretending to be something or someone else and robbing the world of you.
May this apothegm by Ralph Waldo Emerson remind you of life’s bounty when you are the best you, you were created to be. “This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to know the truth, Love to complete your life.” May this postscript enrich it all: May you have the faith in Jesus needed by you to enjoy life here and hereafter.
I hope you are living a life you will be proud of and the Lord pleased with. If not, it is not too late, start today becoming the most accurate person you were created with the capacity to be. If not, I hope you have love strong enough to turn to Jesus and embrace Him as Savior.
Jesus warned against the eternal consequence of pretending to be what you are not in the faith. “ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”