There is more to you than meets the eye, he explained. "Whenever you look in the mirror, I know you only expect to see your image, but your image reflects only how you look on the outside. There is so much more to you than your physical appearance. There is more to you than the mirror can show you. If you are like most people, you have bought into the notion that mirrors don't lie. But I am here to tell you that mirrors do lie. They tell you half-truths, which are nothing more than lies. They never reveal who you are on the inside. I am here to take you beyond the ordinary limits of the mirror . . .
Image to Likeness
Living From The Inside OutBy Terry E. WarrAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2010 Terry E. Warr
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4520-2662-6Contents
FORWARD..............................................................................ixChapter 1 In a State of Shock.......................................................1Chapter 2 Our Identity Crisis.......................................................11Chapter 3 An Inside Look............................................................20Chapter 4 Dad's Magnificent Plan....................................................33Chapter 5 Backward Living...........................................................43Chapter 6 A Family reunion and a Surprised Guest....................................52Chapter 7 Dad Is Uncommon Love!.....................................................63Chapter 8 Unconditional Love in Motion..............................................69Chapter 9 Taking The Limits Off Love................................................72Chapter 10 This Love Is Unbelievable!...............................................77Chapter 11 Unusual Is What Unusual Does.............................................82Chapter 12 Living In His Likeness...................................................88Afterword............................................................................97Appendix Making a Life-Affirming Choice.............................................99Message for Facebook Family and Friends Help Us Change The World.....................101The i2L Challenge....................................................................102Acknowledgments......................................................................103About the Author.....................................................................107
Chapter One
In A State of Shock
Shocked! I guess that is the best way to describe it. Shocked and scared to death. Yes, the shock and fear eventually subsided, but initially I was terrified.
Your first reaction may be that I am crazy. I'm not. I don't even like spooky stuff, but what I am about to share with you really happened, and it has changed my life forever.
I was told to share with each of you what I learned and to offer you this promise: if you apply the principles in this book, you too will experience miraculous things in your journey-things that you have never imagined. I hope you are ready for this, because to tell the truth, I wasn't when it all happened to me.
Darkness greeted me as I frantically awakened from a deep sleep. The beeping of a menacing alarm was the culprit. I could see the green light surrounding the numbers 5:00 on the clock as I reached to silence it and grab my glasses. My pants and shirt finally made their way onto my slow-moving, groggy body. I pushed my feet into my Jordan sneakers, grabbed my bag, and walked to my cold SUV, reminding myself why I was doing these unnatural early-morning workouts.
The trip to the gym takes about ten minutes, and it's during this time that I reflect on the direction of my life. This recurring contemplative act can be paralyzing at times. It's not like I'm unhappy, but something seemed to be missing in my life. Most of the questions floating around in my head on this particular morning were provoked by a passage of scripture I had been studying. I have read it hundreds of times, but for some reason, this time it snatched my consciousness and bent it into submission. It just would not let go.
Genesis 1:26-27 says that God created us in His image and in His likeness. Wow! What does that really mean? Question after question kept rolling out of my mind like an assembly line.
How does God define likeness, and how does it apply to my life?
Is my resemblance to God physical? Is it spiritual? Is it emotional?
What does God really expect of me?
Is my life an accident or an incident?
Why am I even here on earth, and what difference am I making?
I could not stop myself. I wondered if I was the man God wanted me to be. Was there something missing in me or in the experiences that shaped me? I rationalized that I was a good person. I was a good father. I was a committed husband. I worked hard every day. I got along with the people in my life. But I still felt something was missing in my life. I didn't have a real sense of who I was. I knew deep within my heart that I was experiencing an identity crisis.
During my workout, I was oblivious to my sets and routine. I kept pondering all those questions and others. On my way home from the gym, I missed my normal turns and almost stomped a hole through my car from last-second braking. In fact all morning long, as I helped my family prepare for the day, I was completely distracted. I was going through the motions, but I was deep in thought the whole time. I couldn't stop thinking about all of the things that weren't quite right in my life. The more I thought, the more frustrated I became. I saw my family off with a blank stare.
Right after my wife and children left the house, I began to get ready for a day at the office. Nothing out of the ordinary. I squeezed the last of the toothpaste and brushed my teeth, showered in piping hot water, and was about to shave when the craziest thing I have ever experienced happened. The image in the mirror-my spitting image-began to talk to me. Yes, you read it right! No, you don't have to read it again. I know it sounds crazy, but that is what happened. You cannot imagine how terrified I was.
My mouth dropped to the floor as I slowly wiped off the steam from the other half of the mirror with my elbow. Every muscle in my body tensed up as the razor fell from my hand into the water. I almost rubbed my eyes out of the sockets hoping the talking image would disappear. Several thoughts ran through my mind as fast as a speeding bullet. At first I thought I was dreaming. Then I thought I was losing my mind. Then I didn't know what to think. Meanwhile, as if "he" expected my puzzled response, my image calmly waited until it appeared that I had gained my composure.
Then he said, "I know my visit has come as a surprise to you."
"That's the understatement of the year," I thought.
Still in a state of shock, I mumbled, "This can't be real. I am looking in the mirror at myself talking to me."
"That's right," he said. "And before you lose your mind, let me explain a few things. I have been sent to you by Dad-the one you call God. He has sent me here to help you understand who you are and what you can accomplish in your life. I am here to help you learn to live from the inside out."
"What do you mean 'live from the inside out'? What are you talking about?" I asked.
"There is more to you than meets the eye," he explained. "Whenever you look in the mirror, I know you only expect to see your image, but your image reflects only how you look on the outside. There is so much more to you than your physical appearance. There is more to you than the mirror can show you. If you are like most people, there is a good chance that you have bought into the notion that mirrors don't lie. But I am here to tell you that mirrors do lie. They tell you half-truths, which are nothing more than lies. They never reveal who you are on the inside. I am here to take you beyond the ordinary limits of the mirror. I am here to expose you to an internal mirror that fully reveals the essence of who you really are. I am here to introduce you to the person that Dad designed you to be."
As the image spoke, I just stood there mesmerized. His words made sense, but my mind wasn't ready to fully embrace what was happening.
The image continued. "In the life you are currently living, you have three options. The first option is to be a wanderer. This option is the easiest because it requires no action at all. Essentially all you have to do is keep going through the motions day in and day out until your life is over. You can choose to be like the people who live until they are a ripe old age but die on the inside when they were very young. They just wander through life haphazardly without any clear purpose or direction.
"The second option is to allow the world around you to dictate your identity and the outcome of your life. If you select this option, you will live your life relying on others for your success and happiness. You will surrender your hopes and dreams into the hands of others and become a victim of their desires.
"And the third option is to discover your real identity and become who Dad created you to be. If you select this option, you will live life with purpose, passion, and power. You will face life's challenges with a confident assurance that enables you to overcome anything. You will discover things about yourself that will amaze you.
"Most people live their lives at either option one or option two. They do nothing, or they let the world around them control their lives. Very few ever reach the place of promise by intentionally living their lives from the inside out.
"You need to know that even with my help you can still choose whatever option you want," he continued.
Then he said something that was simple, yet profound. (Actually he did that a lot, but for some reason his next few statements hit me like a bolt of lightning.) "One of the greatest gifts Dad has given you is the power to choose. This gives you power to live beyond what is happening around you. Many people allow their situations or circumstances to dictate their lives. But the power to choose allows you to rise above any and every circumstance and situation in your life. You may not be able to choose what happens to you, but you can always choose your response. Always remember and never forget: You have the power to choose. Good health is a choice. Bad health is a choice. Wealth is a choice. Poverty is a choice. Love is a choice. Hatred is a choice. Faith is a choice. Faithlessness is a choice. Never underestimate the power of choice."
The look on his face was intense. His right eyebrow was slightly raised, and there was a noticeable wrinkle in the middle of his forehead. "Let's be clear from the very beginning: There is one catch, and it is a very important one. You must be willing to share the knowledge I teach you with the rest of the world." Even after listening to his explanation, I was thinking, "This is way too crazy for me. Nobody is going to believe this. I am having a hard time believing it myself. I have got to be dreaming." I was about to hyperventilate. Once again I rubbed my eyes, hoping to regain the vision I thought I might have lost.
Still in disbelief, I asked, "Are you someone out of the Bible or something? I mean, you certainly look like me ... but none of this makes sense."
He said, "I know this doesn't make any sense right now, but it will in a few minutes. I don't want you to major in the minors. Instead of wondering who I am, I want you to focus on who you are. I don't want you to completely miss the point."
"What point? Do you realize that I am standing in the mirror talking to someone who looks like me, but who apparently isn't me? This is a mirror, for crying out loud. You are supposed to be a mere reflection of me, not a separate being. In fact, I can't believe I am still standing here talking to myself ... or to you."
"I know this is hard for you. I also know this is out of the ordinary. But if you want extraordinary things, you have to be willing to step outside of ordinary situations. "
I was beginning to get it. Now I knew how some of the people in the Bible felt when they received a divine visitation. "What is your name?" I asked, trying to regain my composure.
"My name?" he replied. "We have the same name. I am you, remember."
I said, "Yes, I know, but this is still quite confusing."
"Okay. I tell you what: If it will simplify things for you, call me Likeness."
Something about his name really resonated with me. Although my mind was still a bit foggy, I realized something profound was about to take place.
"Okay. I'll call you Likeness."
"Great. Now let's get on with what I have come here to do," Likeness said. "First we need to solidify our agreement. Do you agree to share the knowledge I am about to teach you with the rest of the world?"
By now, I was beginning to come back to my normal self. I still felt a little awkward, but my fear was subsiding.
"Uh ... yes ... yes, I do." I agreed to his request, even though I wasn't really sure what it meant. "I promise I will share what you teach me with the rest of the world. In a strange kind of way, I am excited about what lies ahead."
Likeness smiled. "The first thing I am going to do is teach you about who you really are in Dad's eyes." He twisted his hands together as though he were anxious to get started.
Likeness continued referring to God as Dad. I must admit that I was a little uncomfortable with that term. Calling Him Father was more acceptable because it felt a little more formal.
I finally asked, "Why do you keep calling God Dad?"
"Because that's who He is," Likeness replied. "You call Him God, and occasionally you refer to Him as Father or Lord, but I call Him Dad all the time because I fully understand my relationship with Him."
"Are you saying I don't fully understand my relationship with Him?"
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to off end you. Your understanding of the One you call God is growing, and therefore your awareness of who He is grows also. Eventually you will see that He is Dad, plain and simple.
"You need to fully understand some things about Dad that are important if you are going to experience all that He has in store for you. So you need to listen very carefully. As a matter of fact, you will need a notebook so that you can have a written record of everything you learn during our time together."
Out of nowhere, a purple pen and a blue-and-white notebook appeared on the marble counter directly in front of me.
"Will you please tell me a few seconds in advance before you start materializing notebooks and pens out of thin air?" My tone was sharper than I intended, but the sudden appearance of these items caught me off guard. "This is my first conversation with the mirror, and it takes some adjustment. Making stuff appear out of thin air is a little too much for me right now."
Likeness's loud and hearty laughter filled the room. The sound of it was the same as my own laughter. "I apologize. Dad does things like that from time to time, and I've gotten used to it, but I can imagine how you feel. This notebook will assist you in recording our experience together. It is thought-, event-, and voice-activated."
"What do you mean?"
"It is really quite simple. It accurately records our interaction and your thoughts on its own. It makes your job very easy. All you have to do is be who you are, and it will record everything."
I picked up the notebook and looked inside. Just as Likeness said, it had already recorded our brief exchange and my thoughts from earlier in the day.
"This is crazy! I really must be losing my mind."
"You are not losing your mind. Whether you are aware of it or not, everything you say, think, and do is always being recorded. Dad doesn't miss a thing. He knows every little detail there is to know about you. In fact, He has even numbered every hair on your head."
Because I was beginning to go bald, I said, "Yes, and He must know that there a few numbers of hair missing. I think numbers 12 through 20 aren't there anymore, and 30 through 40 aren't either." We both laughed like old friends.
"That is funny. I love your sense of humor." Likeness cleared his throat and got back to business. "Dad is into details. He has numbered every hair on your head. Not only does He know how many hairs there are, but He also knows which numbers are missing. And by the way, your numbers are off. The accurate missing numbers are 14 through 40 and 60 and above," he chuckled.
I laughed, and the lightheartedness of the moment put me at ease.
Likeness continued, "Think of it this way. This notebook introduces you to technology from eternity. It is no different from the gadgets you are used to in your world. It's just a lot more advanced. Besides, if it makes you feel any better, I will ask you to write a few things in the book later on during our time together. But for now, accept it as a gift to help you record our experience so you will be able to share what you learn with others."
"Okay, I guess it is just taking me some time to get used to all of that is happening."
"You are doing fine. You are handling everything very well. Now let's get going," Likeness urged.
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see ..."
IMAGE
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image." (Gen 1:26 NIV)
"Image represents form and can never be changed!"
Chapter Two
Our Identity Crisis
The bathroom scene and my clothing began to change. "Maybe I'm not as ready as I thought," I mused.
The mirror disappeared. The marble countertop and sink vanished. I was no longer dressed in my bathrobe. Instead I found myself fully dressed in denim slacks and a white, short-sleeved shirt. So many things were happening around me at the same time that it was difficult for me to keep up with the changing landscape. It was as if we were standing in the eye of a storm. Brilliant colors swirled all around us. I could hear the sound of rushing wind circling us, yet neither of us was affected by its apparent power. It all happened so quickly that I didn't have time for fear. I was too fascinated to be afraid. In fact, in a strange kind of way, I felt like a newborn baby experiencing life for the very first time.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Image to Likenessby Terry E. Warr Copyright © 2010 by Terry E. Warr. Excerpted by permission.
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