Acceptance Part I: From People

We all want to be unconditionally accepted. Each person desires to have their whole selves embraced by another person. The truth however, is that people rarely csn be their absolute selves around others. You will find that even your closest friends and family members can only tolerate or accept parts of who you are.

But do not despair! We are in good company. Jesus Christ himself found that people, even his own disciples could not accept Him completely. For when Jesus showed more of himself at the Transfiguration, St. Peter felt compelled to make a church (taberbacles). Peter like so many preachers and pastors today wanted to build a church. Simon wanted to have the Church of the Transfiguration, while in Galilee they might have the Fisherman's Church. The point is that neither was the whole identity and depth of the Son of God. He is both the glorious Transfigured Lord and the humble and loving Galilean. 

So often people pigeon hole or compartmentalize each other. Friends only expect to know you so far and if you wish to go deeper and show all that God made you; the result can be separation and heartbreak. An example is that one person, maybe a deeply spiritual person who has insights like St. Paul, but their friend is threatened by this and thus downplays the revelations their spiritual friend gets and consequently makes the spiritual person desire less to show that side of them self.

This is but one example of the alienation we receive in this world. Its purpose is to convince us  to want to leave on the day of departure to heaven. If this world is cruel and indifferent to who you are, then you are thrust into the loving arms of Christ who accepts every aspect you. We are called to not be of this world (Romans 12:2); "If we love the world or anything in it (that includes people's approval and acceptance) we do not love our Heavenly Father." (1 John 2:15). 

So how are we to respond to those who we cannot be our whole selves around and even feel discounted by? There ares two answers; move on or go to the mountain. We can respond to these kinds of marginalizing people with geographic distance and thus choose not to relate to them. However, should you chose to remove everyone one your life that does enjoy the absolute you, the result will be very few relationships. 

The alternative is what Jesus did. When he had ebough of people like Peter or the crowds if codependents, He went up to the mountain and high places. Jesus can be found at Mount Tabor, Mount Olivet, and Mount Zion. The Lord when he had enough of those who could nor fully understand or accept him left for a while to recharge with the Father. 

In the same manner, we can go to our mountains when mankind tries to marginalize us. Our high places can be lofts with computers or actual mountains that you can hike. Wherever you can be your complete self in Christ is the place you can recluse to and let the real you shine before the Lord. 

Ultimately, as the hearts of people grown cold. St. Paul says, "People will be lovers of themselves (self love+self focus), lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedianr to parents, ungrateful and disloyal" ( 2 Timothy 3:2), "And because of this increase in wickedness, love of many will grow cold." (Matthew 24:12).   These verses make clear that acceptance of your absolute self can only be found in The Almighty. It is Christ alone that accepted us in all our sin and died to be with us. The Lord reached out to us in all our wicked and mean behavior, choices, and dispositions. The only true and lasting acceptance and connection we shall find on this Earth is in Christ.