Be real now...so it doesn't suck later.

I like real

I like real even when its messy

I like authenticity.

(Did that rhyme? Dang that sounded good. My mixtape's gonna drop next week.)

The bible says: "For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light." (Luke 8:17) ...And if it's all true, these could be the scariest words you've ever heard in your life.

Imagine one day out of nowhere, every single action, thought and desire that you've ever done, thought or really wanted went flashing up on all the jumbotrons in Times Square in NYC. Yep that means the good, the bad and the ugly too. Not only that but your name and face are plastered right up there next to your true self. What if who you really were was on display for all to see? No filters. No backspace or undo. Just you. (Ooh add that to the mixtape, I'm a rhyming fool today). Here goes nothin, on a good day I think it would look something like this...

Teresa M. Liguori
Massachusetts
24 years old

Loves sugar more than many things in life.

Wishes she was in better shape than she is and looks in the mirror and doesn't like what she sees.

Can't not hit the snooze button. Ever. 

Addicted to technology.

Sometimes feels depressed and lonely.

Only posts positive things online because she doesn't want others to know she's not always happy.

Worries about her future on a daily basis.

Eats too many donuts and drinks to much coffee. (Probably. No - definitely - addicted to coffee).

Objectifies men often. 

Sometimes drinks too much.

Texts and drives.

Is often afraid to talk to people in new situations.

Thinks she knows it all.

Feels like she knows nothing.

Still has trouble forgiving others.

Fears that people she loves will leave or die too soon.

Gets annoyed when old ladies ask to sit with her in public situations - like right now.  (So random!)

Why did I just do that? Because if we are not real now, it's going to suck later. And I don't want it to suck later.  St. Augustine once wrote a whole book (The Confessions of St. Augustine) about how big of a sinner he was and all the dumb things he did too. Now, I'm not trying to make myself out to be some sort of Saint or anything like that, because believe me I could fill an entire book too. But here's the deal... so often we only portray the parts of us that are presentable and nice to look at, rather than who we really are, even when that's kind of ugly. But isn't being real kind of refreshing? I think so. 

If that bible passage above is all true, then one day every single thing about is going to be revealed for all to see. My theory is get it out now and deal with it before its too late. If pain and suffering really leads to joy, then why not go through a little pain now, be authentic, so that later on we won't get screwed? Besides, no one wants to know that we have it all together, people want to know that they're not the only one that's not perfect. Newsflash, nobody's perfect. Thanks Miley. (EW I just quoted Miley Cyrus. Sorry everyone. Just being real)

Here's the deal. There's no "3 steps to this" or "4 ways you know that" today. But one day Jesus is gonna come back and all of our sins are going to be revealed. Why? Because he's mean and looking to get us screwed? No because He deals in reality. First things first, Jesus is the realest  person who's ever walked the earth, and He's coming back to "judge the living and the dead." 

Judge. People are more offended by that word than by an F-bomb these days. Now, I don't believe anyone has any business judging anybody else, but when we call everything that makes us uncomfortable,  "judging", than we have an overly-sensitive culture that needs to toughen up a bit. (My opinion. Did you just judge me?) Human beings need to lay off the real judging, but God can judge all He wants because He only speaks truth. When and if we get to the pearly gates, and God says "you did this, this, this, this and this..." we are only going to be able to respond with "yes, Lord." We cannot lie to The Truth Himself. One day we're going to die and be face to face with this truth, like it or not. 

My challenge today to be practically human is to share this post and post your own "jumbotron" real self for all of Times Square to see. #berealchallenge

Be real now, so it doesn't suck later.