In today’s society we often look at situations that we are
involved in (and inwardly feel we shouldn’t be) and rationalize/justify them
with a host of reasons. When we
rationalize something it means we explain the situation with plausible reasons
even if they aren’t true or appropriate.
The justification process is in trying to show or prove the situation is
true. An example - Government says everyone
must have health care and tries to regulate the provider of that healthcare. Government
officials do not have to be regulated by their own standards and can opt out of
the regulated healthcare. Now, I can
just see the wheels burning and the excuses flying and that’s where we start
rationalizing and justifying why and it is therefore no longer a simple
equation. Yes, both groups wind up with
healthcare, so you can win that dispute if you want to, but it isn’t equitable. If you start qualifying with wealth, race,
sex etc. you are rationalizing.
Illegal immigration is another. Many would like to come across our borders to
live what they believe is the American dream.
There is a waiting list, a “right” way to become a citizen. Those who choose not to enter our country
this way usurp our laws and in my opinion make a mockery of all of us who have
to abide by those laws. I don’t have
first-hand knowledge on the horrors of oppression and I do not wish harm to anyone,
but legality is not a conditional thing.
Any explanation of condition earns the mark of justification through
rationalization. Ok, I’ve ruffled a few
feathers I’m sure with these are 2 examples.
I am not morally better than anyone. I am a sinner, who daily struggles with being
real in my walk, yet believes that Jesus came to absolve all of our sins. He is the common denominator for all of us,
whether we believe in Him or not. At
some point, we will all have our turn facing God and having to answer for the
lives we chose to live. I’m reading the
book, “Hero” by Derwin Gray, and the chapter I’m on is the one where he talks
about wearing a new suit. Derwin was a former
football player, now a Pastor at Transformation Church. In his youth, Derwin was poor and he watched
a movie “Trading Places” where the main character is taken from being poor,
given a new suit, a job and money and he seemingly changes. So, Derwin using the same equation, buys a
new white suit when he makes it big time in the NFL (an acronym, and I quote
him, meaning “Not for long”). When
wearing the new suit, Derwin feels clean and proud and avoids anything that
will make him “dirty”. What he shares in
this chapter though, is our outside cover is just that, if our inside character
doesn’t equal what our outside suit is, we are a façade of cleanliness.
Homeowners, do you pamper the outside of your homes or even
the insides of your homes making everything appear to be “right looking” but
have family lives that are so out of control with abuse, or addictions or
discord? Or loneliness or depression? Isn’t it difficult to keep up that type
of scenery! I know so because at one
time or another we have all faced something that makes our lives out of sync
and we have to act “as if”. Do you think widowhood
is easy in a couples’ world? A neighbor of mine just said
this yesterday stating her widowed friend told her this. Then thinking of Robin
Williams and I would never have guessed he was such a tormented soul, but the mask
he wore became his burden. What is
reality? With whom can we be real? We even delude ourselves! We get trapped into a role and can’t seem to
find our way out because too often pride stands in the way. We are afraid of looking weak, so we continue
to persevere in our misery with lies that fool no one but ourselves.
What is the answer? Put on the Jesus
suit. What’s that? I can give a brief
description here but I suggest further reading in the Bible. Jesus suit = Love. At Transformation Church there is a saying:
Upward, Inward, Outward. It means love God
completely (Upward), love ourselves correctly (Inward) and love others compassionately
(Outward). The Jesus suit! Putting it on daily, means we get unstuck,
because we aren’t focused on ourselves, even when we are loving ourselves,
because it does say “correctly”, meaning understanding that we are a valued
child of God.
This piece is all over the place in its subject matter, but
the point is in here somewhere! And the
point is that we need to stop making excuses for everything and go back to our
roots/core and take a stand. How? Is there a guide line to follow? Let me leave you with this one, I found it to
be pretty powerful – We are all wearing the Jesus suit, whether we want to or
not, how does it look on you? See, when
I borrow someone’s clothing, I find myself more conscious of getting it dirty…just
saying! When we meet with resistance rather
than taking offense, try thinking that the perpetrator of discord is not liking
how their Jesus suit is fitting them and they like how
yours looks and can’t understand why it is different. In response you can keep your suit clean with
words of affirmation or sink to their level and risk getting a blemish on yours.
Looking up!
