My World With Words

Several years ago, when I was seeing a psychiatrist, he suggested I take a small role in a local theater production to help build confidence.  I thought he was nuts, if for no other reason than there were plenty of true actors and actresses vying for any role in these plays and I didn’t stand a chance against them. Another reason? I had no desire to do this. I wasn’t scared of doing it, I simply didn’t want to.

So I told him no, I wouldn’t do it, and he was shocked. “You mean you won’t do what your psychiatrist asks you do?” he asked. Now it was my turn to be astounded. Was this man’s ego so big he actually thought I would substitute his judgment for mine in any situation? Yes, I went there for help. But no, it didn’t mean I was a puppet.

When I was in high school, I joined a local church who taught us that what was preached from the pulpit was absolute truth and we were headed down a solitary road without God if we didn’t follow those teachings. I eventually left the church, but not before I heard someone praise one of the men in the congregation.

This man didn’t blindly accept anything as gospel truth without testing it first. He knew the Bible better than just about anyone in that church and wasn’t afraid to contradict the pastor if he disagreed with him. But wasn’t a contrary man, he was loving and gracious. He just thought for himself. He wasn’t a puppet.

It was a good lesson for me. I was young and impressionable enough that I struggled with leaving that congregation because I thought it meant I was rejecting God. I later learned one of the great lessons of my life: you can make up your own mind, and you can change your mind. It doesn’t mean you’re always going to be right, but it does mean you’re using the brain God gave you to try to get to know him better. And those are the lessons that stick.

Thinking for yourself can be a challenge if you’re a people-pleaser, which I used to be. I’ve gone through enough in the last twelve years that I no longer care what others think of me. But I’m not a rebel, in fact, I show a lot of respect for others, whether I agree with them or not.

Just don’t tell me to follow you blindly. I’m not a puppet.

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Image Credits: Puppet © ArtFamily–stock.adobe.com; Stack of books–courtesy of Pixabay

I’m going to be visiting my mom next month, and that means a ten-hour drive there–and, of course, a ten-hour drive back. So I’m looking for suggestions for some good audio books.

I’m open to anything, as long as it’s compelling. I should be clear that the audio books would have to be something my local library would have, and while said library has a decent selection, it’s nothing like that of a big city. But a good autobiography or memoir would be a welcome suggestion. If it’s really recent and really good, there might be a waiting list, which doesn’t mean you shouldn’t suggest it, but consider some that are a year or two old as well.

If you’ve read a good autobiography or memoir lately, let me know and I can see if it’s available on audio. Or any other book, for that matter.

Your help is appreciated!!

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Image credits: Ear © nazar12–stock.adobe.com; Car © Doloves–stock.adobe.com