Self-Validation

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." Timothy 2:15

We are challenged not to merely study the surface texture of the Word of God, but to delve deep into the richness as it touches our everyday lives. Self-Validation stems largely from this study, of knowing ones self. There must exist within ones self the truth of ones being. I must know who I am in order for me to expect others to know me. I must have an identity. Many actively identify with religion and its trappings, to be part of a larger group. Yet, within this base element there tends to exist those that feel that what they are being taught does not truly relate to what they feel.

It is true that religion has been used throughout the ages as a tool of the educated to influence those less than educated. Today, we live in an educated society. At times, our book knowledge can overwhelm our common sense. We become so associated with the facts, that we think away the truth. Truth can be described as that inner conviction of correctness that guides us to a higher goal. Some call this truth a feeling, or a sense. In more practical terms this truth is best known as the Holy Spirit. I know what you're thinking; here he comes to preach at us. Untrue.

We are all guided by a conscience. We either listen to that inner voice, or we do not. Either way, it exists. That inner voice is God’s way of talking to our hearts through his personality of Teacher or guide. It is this guidance that we often ignore for the sake of our higher brain functions. Why bring this out in regards to inner truth and self-validation? Because, self-validation is our own acceptance of ourselves. Our inner leadings are those things that enable us to reach beyond our own understanding, into the realm of exploration. As human beings we explore our world in many different ways. We are known to explore intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, and often sexually. Yet, we often ignore the one deepest aspect of exploration out of pure fear, the exploration of our inner-self.

Have you ever pondered why this form of exploration remains so difficult? Is it possible that we can look at everyone else’s integrity and make assessments, but not our own? We must accept our weaknesses, as well as our strengths. Why in that order, you ask? From my own experience, I know how easy it is to look at my own failures and dwell on them as the sum of the whole, never looking beyond my imperfections. All the while, I have ignored my own inner strengths, for fear of being considered proud or arrogant. Self-validation is not about arrogance. It is about the deepest form of humility. The old song does have a note of truth… ‘Lord, it’s hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way…’

When will we decide to look beyond the façade, at the inner shell that comprises who we are? Until we can face the demons of our own creation, how can expect to destroy the ones that exist outside of us? My personal imperfections could be listed in minute detail, while my personal strengths are more difficult to find. Yet, I chose to explore that realm within myself and find them.

Yet, finding them is only the beginning. Once we have found our strengths, and acknowledged them, then we have the task of working on them, perfecting them if you will. Granted none of us are perfect, nor shall we ever become so as mere humans. Yet, it is my belief that as we strive toward that inner truth, that perfection of God that lives within every one of us, then the more we grow to be the person God created us to be. It seems like such a simple philosophy, to be the best you that you can be. Yet, it is the deepest challenge we may ever face. It means overcoming our destructive tendencies that rob us of inner power, and eventually keep us from attaining our goals in life.

We must know the truth that lies within us, and build on it. With that power we can stretch ourselves a little further to explore that deeper element of Creation that dwells within us all, God. I know what you are saying, God is relative. God can be a feeling, a person, or even a goal. Yet, in everything I have read, in all the religions I have studied, I have found one common goal. That is the innate desire to be closer to a person-hood of greater power than we are. Yet, God, or a god, is always something you worship. Be it a higher being, an object, or even ones self. Here he goes preaching again, you say…. Again not so.

Ask yourself, do I believe in God? You will find that you may call the power, strength, person by nearly any name imagined, but your inner truth knows who He is. Moreover, you know that He exists. The topic of this book revolves around the Christian Mage, and helping that person find, and use, the power that dwells within them. In order for any of this to make sense, one need not be a Christian, but at least be willing to acknowledge Christ’s teachings. He did have some really awesome and awe-inspiring things to say. I will not ask you to be a Christian, yet, upon discovering many of the truths that real Christianity has to offer, you may decide to learn more about it.

The Christianity that I am speaking of is not about religion, but about a relationship with the Creator. You don’t have to take a potion, or run up and down the aisle singing and dancing for this to work. For those Charismatics out there, we love you… we may not understand you completely, but we still love you. What I mean by Christianity is when we come to a point in our own existence when we realize that there must be something more than what we are living. We notice the world around us and question it. We want a hint at where to go, and what to cling to through the storms that life often brings.

As a student in Bible College, I asked many of the tough questions. When the professors, often ministers themselves, could not answer the question they gave the pat answers… "Because the Bible says so…" or "That’s the way God planned it…" While these answers had a note of truth, they still did not ring true enough to mend the broken melody of my heart. I had to search for the answers, within the Bible, within the world, but mostly within myself. I hope that through this journey, this teaching, together we may discover some of those answers without searching so hard. Of course, you must first search within to know who you are, and what direction you want your inner growth to take.