Being Genuine

My boyfriend and I often have this conversation of how we want to be remembered. Of course, there are many things I want people to think of when they hear my name. I want them to remember me as the best President of the United States, or the best judge on the U.S. Supreme Court. I want them to think of my success as a lawyer. I want them to remember me as someone who was intelligent and witty. Yet all dreams and jokes aside, there is one thing I want people to think about when they think of me. I want them to remember for my sincerity.

I strive to be real and authentic with others. No matter what people think of me, I want them to know the real me. Of course I want them to think highly of me, but if not, at least know me for who I truly am. If I am the same genuine person in every situation, every person should know the same Zara, and the real Zara.

Whether you believe in a higher power or not, everyone wants you to be honest and sincere. However, I think my Christian beliefs just further this desire for authenticity. In 2 Corinthians, Paul writes about God's grace and how we are called to be in light of that. In verses 7 and 8, it says,

"But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine."

So not only are we called to excel in our faith and in love, but do this in a genuine manner. I'll be honest, even though I have this strong desire to be authentic, I'm nowhere near perfect at it. It's easy to fall into the trap of insincerity and hypocrisy. However, God calls me, and us, to something higher than that. He calls us to genuine love.