When I was growing up, I had this neighbour that I so much wanted to walk like. I was in love with his way of walking. His legs were a bit bow, but mine weren’t. No matter how hard I tried, there was no way I could walk like him. Because that was not the way I was made. At some other point, while in secondary school, I wanted to walk like one of my teachers, who used to sway from side to side with each step. You can’t imagine how hilarious I used to look then, trying so hard to be someone else.
I know that I’m not alone in this land of pipe dreams. Many people have tried fruitlessly to talk like someone else (especially with an American accent), to preach like someone else, to dress like someone else, to sing like someone else…the list is endless. Some of us did not go as far as trying; they only wished they were as tall as someone else or as fair as someone else. At the recesses of their minds they feel that they are being limited by those perceived ‘shortcomings’.
The best thing we can do is to discover ourselves for ourselves. If only we can start to see ourselves through the eyes of our Sovereign God, who knows why He made us the way we are, our lives will be filled with fulfilment. I am sure King David never let his mind trick him into wishing he could be someone else. That was why he could boldly say “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well” Psalms 139:14
In contrast, Paul must have noticed the opposite among the Corinthians that made him write and say to them: “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” 2Cor 10: 12.
Discover the image of you that God sees and work hard at it with all your heart. No matter how hard you try to be like someone else, there can only be one original and IT WON’T BE YOU! God created you to be a voice. If you work hard at becoming someone else, you will only end up as an ECHO. How sad that will be!
Chidi Ukandu's Blog 