poser

On highway 27, headed towards downtown, just as you reach the Signal Mountain Boulevard exit, if you look up and to your left, you’ll see it. Not long ago, it was a hill, full of greenery and trees, with an apartment complex nestled in behind it. But now, due to construction and extensive tree removal, the hill is almost completely bare and the apartment complex is exposed to the brazen, unrelenting world of traffic below. I say almost bare, because there is one thing left standing.

It is almost a tree. But, not really. It is a cell tower that was made to look as though it was a part of the once lush greenery that surrounded it. What you see now, when you drive down 27, and look up towards that hill is a really tall cell tower, standing alone, with fake greenery adorning only the highest point, but no other greenery of any kind around it.

It is ridiculous looking standing there trying to be a tree. However the irony is not lost on me. The very tree limbs that were attached to make the tower look as though it fit in its surroundings, now make the tall giant look foolish, with everything else green completely stripped away.

Over the past six months, whenever I pass that spot on the highway I have wondered. What camouflage am I hiding behind? Who am I trying to be, in order to fit in or earn acceptance? More often than not, I end the day and realize I have been working; working so hard to be all the things I don’t have to be. Striving for perfection, laboring for others positive opinion, and trying, trying, trying… And the harder I try, the more I’m exhausted and look just plain foolish.

As the Holy Spirit strips away all of my unnecessary efforts, exposing me for the poser that I am, He is also so good to revive my heart and soul. God’s Word is so clear. I don’t have be all of the things I’m not.

I can rest.

Matthew 11 quotes my Savior this way:

²⁸Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.²⁹Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

and from Ephesians 2:

⁸For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹not of works, lest anyone should boast.

There is so much relief in these verses. His gift, my escape, means no more efforts to be who I’m not, only who He desires me to be. Whew.

Thank you Heavenly Father for this rest that only You can give. I can relax inside your mercy and goodness this morning. and I am beyond grateful. amen.

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A new song I’ve been listening to has words that remind me regularly of this truth.

Rest Easy….

You are not alone
I will always be with you
Even to the end

You don’t have to work so hard
You can rest easy
You don’t have to prove yourself
You’re already mine
You don’t have to hide your heart
I already love you
I hold it in mine
So you can rest easy

Do not be afraid
Nothing, nothing in the world
Can come between us now

You work so hard to wear yourself down
And you’re running like a rodeo clown
You’re smiling like you’re scared to death
You’re out of faith and all out of breath
You’re so afraid you’ve got nowhere left to go

Well, you are not alone
I will always be with you