The Right Stuff

Ever wonder what person other people perceive you as? Kind, generous, patient or harsh, stingy and impatient, or maybe just someone they try to avoid. Or better yet, what Halloween costume would others have you wear to reflect your personality: Darth Vader, Superman or woman, The Grim Reaper, or maybe Scooby-Doo?

We could have fun with that and that is the intention this weekend, not that we take this holiday too seriously, but that we enjoy a little break from the tension of real life and have one night of make believe.  This Saturday we are having a Trunk 'N Treat at the Toyota dealership and they asked me if I would dress in a costume and help giving candy out. So last night I looked around at what was available and thought to myself, what it is I would like to be, and it made me ask myself, do I have the Right Stuff to do this?

Which led me to my topic of today, do I have The Right Stuff in life right now, am I doing what God would have me do? And like any recovering person taking inventory on a continual basis, I found some stuff that needs to go.

We can dress up in any costume we want but we cannot deny reality that we are sinners capable of doing the wrong stuff from time to time. The keys of course are to ask for forgiveness and to put ourselves in a position to succeed. In Matthew chapter 15 Jesus talks about cleaning house to get The Right Stuff. My recovery Bible has these words of wisdom far greater than any I could write:

"Before we got into recovery, we wasted alot of energy on the externals - making sure we appeared "together"and in control. We created the proper impressions, and we covered our tracks when we indulged in our addictions. Meanwhile we were rotting on the inside. When we hit bottom and reached out for God's help, however, we began to worry less about outside impressions and more about cleaning up our inner person. Along with the Bible, Steps four through nine help us do this inner housecleaning."

Yes, I will find a costume for this one night (probably be the Godfather to make the customers an offer they can't refuse), but I want to make believe just this brief time. The rest of the time I need to be real, and work the process of spiritual development and step work to make sure The Right Stuff is always inside me.