We are living in a world today where lemonade is made from artificial flavours and furniture polish is made from real lemons.
(Alfred E. Newman)
Is this real? A world where humans eat fake food and real food is given to pets or used as polish? What do you value? Are you scared? Fearful? Suspicious of others? Is there no one who is sincere? Is everyone fake? It just breaks you inside. You don’t think you have any strength to resist. Who can you believe?
Pretending everyday that everything is alright when it’s not, leaves you confused and doubtful of who you are. Like the lemon flavor, you’re only left with a trail of sour and bitter encounters. You’re broken inside and the pain seems never-ending.
Have you been wrong, everyone is wearing these masks that hide their true feelings. What should you believe? Don’t give up on yourself. Like the white pith in the lemon peel surrounding the fleshy fruit of the lemon, your bad experiences are preventing you from letting others know the true you. Don’t give up, just let go of trying to be what the world expects you to be.
Be authentic, meet sincere people. There are still real ‘lemons’ out there. Not the fake variety. Draw whatever strength you’ve left from deep within you and release the lie that you need to be fake to measure up. Or that you’ll not be accepted for who you are. You are real. You’ve got an identity is not made up of what you own or the status you hold.
What do you choose to believe? Life is not great but you can still believe that you’re not alone. Read the story –Cherokee Indian Youth’s Rite of Passage in the blog post – Trap or shelter. There is help at hand. There are others like you who may need a sincere friend. Make the choice to be the real you. Let out the goodness inside. Choose to believe you’re Good and there is still hope.
Search for the truth of who you are. Dig into you. Don’t give up. There may be a God who is waiting with open arms for you, waiting to give you back the ‘real’ you that you’ve lost. Be honest with yourself, stop hiding. There is no need to feel ashamed or guilty. Move forward, be brave. Show what really matters. Be the real deal!
Artist and Text: Anna G
The Pencil's Tale
An old pencil maker took his newest pencil aside, just before he was about to pack him into a box. Imagining the little fellow as a person, he recalled a few things about the pencil.
“There are five things you need to know,” he said to his pencil, “before I send you out into the world. Always remember these five things – never forget them – and you will become the best pencil you can be!”
“The first thing is to remember that you will be able to do many great things but only if you put yourself in someone else’s hands.”
“From time to time, you will experience a painful sharpening but remember that this will make you a better pencil.”
“Also, keep in mind that you will be able to correct any mistakes you might make along the way.”
“And the most important part of you is what’s on the inside.”
“And remember this as well, upon every surface that you are used, you must leave your mark. No matter what else happens, you must continue to write.”
It seemed the pencil listened to him and promised he would remember these five things so that he could live his life with heart and purpose.
