I often find myself re-reading this C.S. Lewis quote from 'Mere Christianity.' I'm drawn to it because I want to be a 'new man' and I know I'm far from being there.
“Already the new men are dotted here and there all over the earth. Some, as I have admitted, are still hardly recognizable: but others can be recognized. Every now and then one meets them. Their very voices and faces are different from ours: stronger, quieter, happier, more radiant. They begin where most of us leave off. They are, I say, recognizable; but you must know what to look for.
They do not draw attention to themselves.
This is not my default. My own insecurities often lead to cafeteria conversations being one sided. To avoid silence, I'll just talk about myself. It's easier, feels safer, and makes me feel likable and funny. It's harder to ask good questions. It's harder to focus on someone else. I want to be a 'there you are' kind of person instead of a 'here i am' kind of man.
They love you more, but they need you less.
I check my likes on Instagram. I need affirmation. I want kids to think I'm cool. But I long to find my identity in what my Heavenly Father thinks of me. I want to be confident as His son so I don't need other's affirmation. Only then will I truly be free to love without strings attached, without needing love in return.
you will wonder where it comes from.
Availability is not my spiritual gift. Busyness is a vacuum. How many times have I missed key opportunities because I didn't leave margin in my schedule? Kids notice. They see the signals. "I have time for you, but only when it's on my watch."
My college roommate wasn't super active in any club or sport. He didn't study a ton. He wasn't Mr. Popular. But I LOVED living with him. Any time I asked Chad if he wanted to go for a run or grab a burger, he almost always was available. His presence was a gift to me. I want to give other people that same gift. With-ness.
The difficult thing about becoming a 'new man' is that it's not something we can muster up. We can't just choose to be a 'new man' and become more disciplined. Our will-power will fail us. Our true selfish natures will eventually surface.
The only way to become a 'new man' is to be made new.
We can't make ourselves new.
The only way to live like this is for CHRIST TO LIVE in us.