"Real Talk?" by Lauren Rocco

Have you ever regretted not being honest with someone?  You didn't necessarily lie, you just withheld the truth. I have felt that way on more than one occasion.

I have to admit that it's really hard for me to be honest with people.  Let me specify: honest with people about myself.  I mean if you ask me what I think about your new haircut I'll tell you flat out my opinion. But on a serious note, honesty can be really hard. I'm friends with a lot of people.  But it's mostly casual, surface level conversations, because I never want to reveal anything too personal. Otherwise I would feel vulnerable, and vulnerable is not a good feeling when you're used to controlling everything in your life. Lately God has been really challenging me to be honest with people. 

I feel like there is this gap in my life, between the person that I am and the person that people think I am. Only God knows me for who I really am. He knows my innermost thoughts, He knows my past, and He knows my secrets.  It amazes me that despite all of my failures He still loves me. I'm really working on closing that gap in my life because I feel like that is the best way to make a real impact with people.

Anyone can pretend. Although it's difficult to share the overwhelming need of a Savior if your life is perceived as something perfect.  I used to be afraid, maybe a bit ashamed of my everyday struggles, but I'm working on letting it go. My relationship with God is something very real.  It's true and eternal.  God has called me to invest time in other people and sometimes that means sharing my personal experiences.  I'm not an expert but I am working on it.

Hebrews 12:1 says, "Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

Being true to yourself never goes out of style. I am the first person in my family to graduate from college, I like to have things "just so", and I have gained more from The Well than I could have ever imagined. I am Lauren Rocco. And I am His.

(Lauren Rocco graduates next week from The Florida State University and plans to attend Pharmacy school.)

 

Baptism
Our next round of baptisms will be this Sunday, April 26th following the service at Godby.  If you are interested in being baptized or would like more information about baptism, contact Dean at dean@nomorethirst.org today.

College Community Group
This summer, The Well's college community groups are coming together!  Join us each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. starting May 13th at Matthew Robinson's house.  Dinner each week is a cheap $3 followed by a time for bible study and discussion.  If you need more info, contact Dean or Matthew.

This Fall, The Well travels to Chapel Hill for the FSU vs UNC football game on Thursday, October 22nd. Weʼll be sticking around for an extended retreat weekend. For more information about the trip and to register, visit UNCRoadTrip.com.