Man is cloaked in experiences, yet we see only the outermost garments of his being.
At times, he is bright and charming. He can also appear worn and weary, depending upon the day and whose eyes are upon him.
He moves with undisclosed aches tucked behind brand-name shirts; his shoes are fitted for comfort despite so much of his journey having been traversed over more valleys than hills.
Time has draped him in many labels: cherished gifts such as Dad, Christian, and loyal friend. Others he longs to shed, yet even these he accepts as part of his wardrobe, however deeply they are buried in the back of his mind: addict, overworked, alone.
He has a great laugh, and an even better smile.
And yet, his eyes betray him.
It isn’t that this man is harming others. Rather, he has developed an understanding, almost a quiet resignation, that temporal pleasures are far too fleeting to be anything more than entertainment or distraction.
And yet, he continues to scroll, view, respond, and repeat, because he tells himself that without the entertainment or distraction he would wrestle with too much, and he already has enough on his plate.
Pleasure can be a cruel desire.
He learned long ago that what satisfies in this world is rarely sustainable, at least not with substantial sacrifices. At one point, he realized the greatest sacrifice was himself… the ever-so-slow trading of who he wanted to be for who he thought he needed to be in the moment.
And those moments stacked up to fill a lifetime.
The walls he tolerated felt more like they were imprisoning him than protecting him. Yet, by the time he discovered this truth, the scale and cost were too high, and his voice was lost in the crowd.
So, he remained, doing his best to be and give his best.
He wasn’t operating to receive an accolade. He was searching for peace.
Peace. What an elusive word that is, so ultra-processed by artificial fillers that most don’t even recognize it when they have it.
Society presents images of success, beauty, and luxury, and tells us this is what peace looks like. As such, the man keeps checking the societal boxes, waiting for the day his smile finally reaches his soul.
Following the road the world paves makes for a very long journey.
His years of ‘making it’ are giving way to the shorter, quieter years that remain. Such years are not impressed by resumes or trophies, shiny things that collect dust and are often disposed of in waste bins.
Legacy is woven, not won.
It is threaded together by Christ, connection, compassion, and consistency.
He knows this, but he is afraid to truly examine the quality of his work: is it worth sharing, or was it all for him?
On the rare mornings when the noise softens, he catches a faint glimpse of the man who remains: unfinished and still searching.
This alone is probably his greatest kindness to himself: living into the hope that he can still make a lasting difference in a world where very little lasts.
This column was originally published by CherryRoad Media. For more faith-based columns and inspirational writing by Tiffany Kaye Chartier, follow her on Facebook. Her devotional collection “The 4-Minute Reset: For Cultivating Peace, Purpose, and Positivity” is available on Amazon and other major online retailers.
Provided by Dallas Express
