Life Without Gimmick By: Danny Wallace I had a conversation a few years back with a “gospel celebrity” friend of mine. We have known one another for over 45 years. We had discussed his celebrity, and as he attempted to understand mine, (a stretch to assume I had any) he said, “Oh I see, you’re doing the ministry gimmick.” I didn’t know what to say. I knew what he meant, but his words brought to my mind a far, and distant memory. I wrote Maskquerade, and therefore, I know all about hiding our wounds behind a barrage of so-called “gimmicks.” In fact, I spend a huge portion of my day counseling people who have lost their authentic voice. Every victim quickly falls into a deathly silence, or simply adopts the voice of another. Either way, being a victim is best described as “death, without actually dying.” Very few people understand survivors. Most people continue throughout their lives to operate in their own level of “victim,” understanding formulas, religious principles, and looking good for the public as a means of feeling safe. Feeling safe for a moment is not living free forever. True survivors are people who finally summon the courage to say, I’m done. This is as far as I go in the performance. Survivors no longer concern themselves with performing within formula guidelines, or religious principles. They certainly do not concern themselves with looking good for the public. Survivors fly – victims never leave the ground. Every victim knows what it feels like to lose their voice, and perform to the standard of others. In fact, every person has experienced these same pressures at some point in our lives. There is nothing unique about victims. We are all identical in that way. Likewise, true survivors are identical in one very specific way. At some point we all have said, “I’m done. Not a single step further will I walk in this farce. Some survivors become so fed up that they start out as mad as hell is hot. Though anger may spur a survivor to reclaim their voice, it is not an angry voice they seek. Survivors are simply former victims who grew tired of the show. I was tired of my show; they same as many of you have grown tired of yours. I was tired of wondering who really loved me for “me.” Maybe you can also identify with the exhaustion. Victims should be tired of the wondering. The road from victim to survivor is not an instant process, but it WILL place you on a far different road and journey than the one youve been on. I must ask, How has the road of victim worked out for you? Take charge of your destiny. Reclaim YOUR voice, and relinquish the voice of another. Fly high and strong. Do not remain caged and weak. You deserve better. Believe it or not, down the road there are hurting hearts that deserve your flight of survival over their brokenness, and you deserve the joy of “life without gimmick.”
Posted on: Fri, 05 Dec 2014 12:15:05 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015