Facade

From My Perspective - - -

People love to coin phrases that don’t always hold up under scrutiny. It is common-place to hear the expression: “Perception Is Reality”! Wikipedia indicates: “In psychology and the cognitive sciences, perception is the process of attaining awareness or understanding of sensory information.” Objects and Ideas can mean different things to different people. A test that is often employed is the use of objects or ink blots (The Rorschach Test). The person taking the test has to give interpretation and/or definition to what is being observed. Such interpretation or definition does not mean that is the reality.

This week we observed the Democratic National Convention. The final night of the convention was held in Invesco Field. At the 50 yard line a large stage Facade had been erected. Some thought it had the idea of the White House Portico, whereas others felt it represented an Athenian Temple. The point is that it was a prefab Facade that very quickly was disassembled for the next big event to be held in the stadium. What needs to be remembered is that a “Facade” is merely “a superficial appearance or illusion of something…an artificial or deceptive front…”

When this concept is applied to political rhetoric by any party or candidate, if a list was kept of everything that was stated as "The Reality" to be provided by “My Administration”, one would find that hopes would quickly fade behind a mountain shadow of impossibility. It is one thing to “Think Big” and that is a worthy motivational tool. However, too much of the rhetoric fades in one’s memory and the realities of life are still there – dreams not realized and hopes dashed. Perhaps that is a reason why in the latest Real-Clear-Politics Poll the Congressional approval rating is at 17.4 % and the Presidential Approval rating is at 30%. We seem to be paralyzed in and by the political rhetoric that speaks what people want to hear, but the reality of it in many instances (thankfully) is Facade.

The greater concern is in regard to the lives we live regardless of the political dialogue or the ambitions of the one elected to office. The Perception regarding a Life – is it Reality or is it Façade (appearing to be something grand when it is only a prefab representation that is as quickly disassembled as it was assembled)! For instance, there are some Marks of the Basic Christian Life that demonstrate “Reality” versus “Façade”! Colossians 2:6 through 8, the beginning point states: “as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

The Reality Factor takes us a step further to Colossians 3:5 through 15, “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness…In these you too once walked, when you were living in them…Now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator…as God's chosen ones… Model By Your Life compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you…above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… These are the minimum Marks and Reality.

Consider these things with me - - - Remove all the Facade and Walk Completely In Reality!