Reputation

One of the big things I've been learning lately is how to be me. I've discovered that I have a say in who I am. So, tonight I spent some time jotting down some attributes that I want to posses. When other people look at me, I want them to see a man who works hard, does things to the best of his ability, spends time with God, loves people, and is responsible and courteous. So, those are the things I'm trying to replicate. I just think about what someone who possesses all of those characteristics would do in a specific situation and then do that. Okay, it's not quite that simple. It's going to take some habit breaking and changing some thought patterns, but I've done it before so I can do it again. I'm trusting God to work in me through this to help me become the man He has for me to be.

So, if I'm concerned with how God wants me to be, then why am I focusing on how other people view me? Isn't that like some kind of sin? Allow me to explain what I mean here.

A few years ago I wrote a statement about reputation that I'd love to share with you. In essence, the point I was trying to make is that my reputation is important. I am supposed to be representing God in everything I do. That means that my reputation should be one that reflects who God is. Basically, my reputation needs to be one of Love.

   Reputation is one of the most important things when it comes to this idea of popularity, a principle that justifies one person being better than others (which is ridiculous in my opinion). Now I have been trained to believe that the way people perceive me is independent of who I actually am and that I shouldn't worry about how others see me. However, as an ambassador for God, I am discovering that my REPUTATION is more important than I initially realized. 
     You see, reputation  means that everything I do reflects on everything I am associated with. In turn, everything I am associated with can change my reputation. For example: I am associated with the band, math, speech/drama, and chorus programs at our school. I am also associated with my friends and family. The closer I am associated with those things: the more they affect my reputation. My reputation is an overall quality of my character based on how others see me. This is affected by what I choose to associate myself with as well as the choices I make, words I say, and actions I do. One can have a reputation based on an individual characteristic such as loyalty, or their abilities, their successful-ness, and many other things. The way you manipulate your reputation in turn affects your popularity.
     As a follower of Christ, I must be careful that my reputation is Godly. How do others see me? How do others perceive me? I need to associate myself with things that reflect who I am. Do the activities I am involved in reflect the way I want people to see me? Do the people I let into my life reflect how I want other's to see me? In order to answer that I had to ask myself, How do I want other's to see me? 
    I could be anything. Not even the sky is the limit. I could be popular, I could be the nerd, the quiet one, the quitter, the jerk, the player, the friend. I could be known for my talents, my discoveries, my entertainment, or my character. The problem I have found is that none of these things are eternal qualities. 

This doesn't mean that I put my emphasis in life in getting other people to view me a certain way, and I definitely shouldn't be placing my self worth in whether or not people view me a certain way. However, I know that all of my actions should point people towards Christ. So, that's what I'm going to focus on, with His help.

Let me know what you guys think about reputation and personality! 

Good luck in the real world and God Bless,

-XTopher