A couple of weeks ago, I was out for an evening walk and began to ponder the topic of reinvention.
From time to time, we hear of a well-known performer, often a singer, who is said to have “reinvented” him- or herself. Upon a closer look, we see that the whereas the singer may have changed hair color and style, costume, or even the genre of music (now country as opposed to rock, for example), there has been no fundamental change in who or what he or she does– still singing, but just in a new package.
Businesses and celebrities repackage often as a way to update their image or appeal to a new crowd, but when it comes down to it, it’s the same content with a nice new package.
On the other hand, some people have genuinely reinvented themselves. I immediately think of one well-known actress/performer who has an entirely new focus and career now as a health advocate and author. I recently read a book written by a former medical physician with an active practice who is now a spiritual counselor, as well as author.
There are many tales of men and women who one day made a dramatic change in career and lifestyle, such as leaving the corporate world for foreign missions or even from ministry to the medical field or business.
In such cases, it is not an external change of repackaging the old, but a deep internal change that resulted in a new expression.
Many people are struggling with this internal change, as it is a true break with the old and familiar. It seems to require too much from what we had expected or what we knew. We have not passed this way before. Therefore it requires a whole new level of trust and a change of perspective.
Not everyone will make such a dramatic outward change, but the inward work will modify forever how that present lifestyle and/or career will be approached as it unfolds.
I believe God is after something transformational, a new level of “truth in the deepest part”.
During this time, beliefs about oneself, life, and God are challenged and life’s path make take some sharp curves with setbacks and upheaval. Friends and family may not understand, criticize, or worry. Or some will assume it’s the “dark night of the soul” all over again, but it is not.Should you just keep trying harder when it’s obvious that what you have been doing to the best of your ability is simply not working? It’s not a matter of laziness or lack of faith, and yet God seems oddly silent.
Or it is time to let go of those expectations and disappointments and fears to truly see what is? Facing the truth takes courage sometimes and is often humbling.
In the process of unfolding honesty, genuine wisdom begins to form and less importance is attached to life’s drama. Biases and prejudices fade and more authentic spiritual interaction and insight grows.
Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.”
Psalm 138:8 NAS
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”
“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:26-28 NAS