Perception & Acceptance

Hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas and are looking forward to the New Year.

Manning makes this point on page 29:

"Never confuse the perception of yourself with the mystery that you are really accepted."

He continues by saying that we do not need to be like Quasimodo, the hunchback of Notre Dame, that has to hide his ugliness.  Jesus came for us precisely because we are all Quadimodos, ugh...Ragamuffins.

I wish I could easily put that into practice.  There are times I feel so ugly because of my sins and shortcomings.  It's like I'm looking in a carnival mirror.  My imperfections are there but they are distorted.  But there are times I believe the reflection!  Lord, help me to let go of the broken idea of needing to look good in your presence.  Help me to know what's more important is my honesty in your presence.

What say ye about this fellow Ragamuffins?