What is Real?

 

Joining Lisa Jo again today for another Five Minute Friday, where we spill from the heart. What comes, comes. What spills, spills. No fixing allowed.

Today’s prompt is in real life . . .

GO!

“What is real?” asked the Velveteen Rabbit.

And the Skin Horse tells him it’s when someone loves you, really loves you for a long, long time.

That it doesn’t happen all at once and that once you become real, most of your hair falls off, your eyes drop out, and you get very shabby.

But it doesn’t doesn’t matter because once you are real, you can never be ugly.

Real is forever. It lasts for always.

I feel really shabby sometimes.

My hair’s not shedding–much–and a dab of color helps hide the gray.

But shhh–only my hairdresser knows that for sure.

My eyes haven’t fallen out, but I do struggle to thread a needle.

And I’m learning more and more that wearing masks is exhausting.

That being real brings freedom.

That my real life is not visible.

It’s the one that’s hidden in Christ.

A spirit roughed up until softened.

Real is in the becoming.

The life of the heart, loved from before the beginning and forever and forever.

Because this life is not the real one.

This life here on earth will end.

And my real life is the one that will begin when this one ends.

But in this real life of heartache and frustrations and even joys, I’m grateful for invisible friends, real friends who hurt with me, carry me, rejoice with me.

You.

You are real to me.

STOP!

 

Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you’ll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ.
~Colossians 3:3-4 (Message)