New Way to Be Human

I grow tired of being human sometimes. Tired of human rights, human nature and hearing “Well, I’m only human.” It’s a sad condition, this humanness, and coping with it seems pointless at times. In fact, dealing with my humanity is sometimes akin to eating a baloney sandwich. Exciting? No, filling maybe, but not fulfilling at all. A bland meaningless attempt at living, mixed with some mundane manufacturing of purpose. There are days when I try to live beyond the sandwich. I have wishes of making a difference in the world, of leaving my mark on society. That’s when my humanity strikes again. The compulsive disorders of selfish living occupy too many of my days. In this state, eyes and ears quickly close to the needs of others. It seems, that even at my peak, I am no better than that stale baloney sandwich. The problem is simple—I have a disease—the disease of me.

When Pat Riley took over as coach of the New York Knicks some years ago, he said their poor team play was because of a disease they all had. He called it “the disease of me.” To coach Riley, the player’s team focus was less than the attention they paid to their own stats, playing time and salary. It is now obvious to me that I am a carrier of that same sickness; too much “me-ness” is a sure symptom.

Is this what God created humans to be like? No, I think there is a new way to be human.

“Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” Genesis 1:26

God created humanity in His image and planted His likeness on us. We can share His character, His creativeness and vision. Seeing like God raises our awareness, enabling the mundane to be magical.

Open my eyes so that I may behold wondrous things. Psalm 119:18

It is through Jesus we have the best example of a new way to be human. While He walked this Earth Jesus poured His love through His humanness, through His flesh. I’m glad; humanity needed that love, that perfect example of a new way to be human. Jesus redirects our vision towards the Father and His goodness. What does God see? How does God see? These become questions that empower our imagination, giving insight to the heart of God. When we do, that’s when the wondrous things appear.

Our own humanity looks different, neighbors look different and more importantly, whom we see as our neighbor changes. To see through new human eyes will surprise us and turn our lives upside down. A reconditioned, new way to be human outlook has a heavenly spin on it. The ordinary, the status quo, the routine, an invasion of the Divine disrupts them all. I can find places to worship, opportunities to grow and lives to touch in all of them. When I do, these experiences become life encompassing, filling my every nock and cranny with purpose.

This new way to be human drives me to know the Heavenly Father intimately. I am different when I know Him more. The experiences touch me, but relational communion with the Father restores me. Brand spanking new humanness, with the capacity and freedom to embrace all God wants us to be. My senses explode with new zeal that drives me closer to God and closer to his creation. Enjoying butterflies and butterfingers, Starbucks and stargazing, ocean waves and a baby’s bye-bye wave; a Broadway hit play and a great double play. Dealing with serious life issues like confronting injustice, comforting a loved one and standing firm amid trials. All make up the “genes” of life, here God whispers to our souls, reeducating our nature. Always gently reminding us of our true DNA and the human He intends us to be. Through it all God is saying “Here’s life more abundantly” and stuffing our every pore with it. His passion ignites my spirit and I become alive to His plan and wishes for me.

It’s a journey for sure, but now I give off a “new human smell” as I go along.

New way to be human
There's a new way to be human
It's nothing we've ever been
There's a new way to be human
It's spreading under my skin
There's a new way to be human
Where divinity blends
With a new way to be human
New way to be human
- Switchfoot

Blessings,
Jay

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© 2008 Jay Cookingham - All rights reserved.
Jay Cookingham recently published two articles for the God's Way series. You can visit his home page at http://Jaycookingham.com

This column is used with permission.