Tuesday, October 7, 2008

The Impostor

(I promise, this post is actually a quick read and not nearly as long as it looks...Blogger is rebelling against me once again in the formatting department)



My sister Schnitzy knows fashion. Will she be wearing purple this fall? Of course. Since it has been dubbed the color of the season she’ll at least accessorize with shades of plumb. She knows what to wear and how to wear it.



The exorbitant price tags that are often attached to hot ticket items impose limitations on a fashion diva; so, when Schnitzy heard about an opportunity to purchase designer handbags at average Jane prices, she hopped a train to the city that doesn’t sleep. Moments after arriving at her destination, a woman approached her and whispered, “Do you want Gucci, Coach, or Prada?” to which Schnitzy replied, “Yes!”



Shooing away from her mind questions of safety, Schnitzy followed the suspicious woman down the street, through an alley, into an old warehouse, and up a metal staircase. Her heart raced as the woman stopped and opened a Hobbit-sized door, pointed toward a narrow crawl space, and with a hushed tone said, “You go now.”

Stunningly, Schnitzy obeyed.



The crawl space led to an enormous room well stocked with fine looking handbags. My sister was greeted by a man who showed her several trendy bags with designer markings. She chose two. Instead of handing her the purses he held, the man reached for two among the vast stock pile. He then grabbed some silver name plates from a drawer and stamped them onto the handbags.



Swallowing down the hard lump that formed in her dry throat, Schnitzy exchanged money for the phony purses. She had fallen for a scam, risked her life for an impostor.



I’m going to ask you to lay judgment aside. I ask because, first, she was barely out of high school and made bad a choice that can now be chalked up to inexperience. We all own a few of those, right? Second, I have been guilty of the same brand of mistake. There has been a time or two, or two-hundred, when the voice of temptation crooned, “I’ve got what you want over here…come, it’s worth the risk.” And like the piper’s field mouse, I followed.



I blanch remembering several different situations when I broke the rules in order to gain what I deemed as top quality. I’ve told lies, betrayed the trust of a friend, and undermined a co-worker. Of course later, and sometimes only seconds later, I discovered that I had been cheated… I had traded something authentic, like my integrity, for a fraud.



Those examples are now old memories, but I still have a few “Prada knock-off’s” hanging around. There are many to choose from…many items in this life that promise real happiness, true joy, and authentic contentment, but each one just leaves me yearning for more, because each one is an impostor.



There is only One who can bring truth. One, who is the real deal. He’s not running for president of the United States…He runs the entire universe. And if I can just keep my eyes on Him, the true desires of my heart will be granted, and I’ll never again settle for a cheap impostor.



Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one. All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant to their own shame. Isaiah 44:8-9 (NIV).





28 comments:

Amy said...

Angela, This post is so true. We do often trade for immediate results and are cheated in the process. God is truth. May we never settle for anything less. Great job. Blessings.

Gwendolyn said...

You have such a way with words! Thank you for posting this...you're making me think this morning!

Heather of the EO said...

WOW. Excellent post. Love it. I'm in the middle of the Beth Moore Daniel study (or I should say Week 2) and this post aligns itself so closely with what I just read this morning!
That's the second time that's happened today! (with posts, I mean)

God is good.

Kimberly said...

This post goes right along with a chapter in a Bible study I was doing this morning. It was talking about how we turn to the world for counterfeit peace...looking to people, things, achievements, etc. to bring us peace. But the only lasting peace is from God.

I need to be careful what I am settling for in this life!
Thanks for this great post!

MaryBeth said...

Beautifully said, and oh so true!

Mocha with Linda said...

Excellent words, my friend. We should purse-ue Christ alone!!

Jessica Stock said...

love this. thanks for the reminder to seek the "life that is truly life"

Ronel said...

This was such an amazing post.. it really hit home with me. I sometimes feel like I am chasing the wrong things in life and then I have to reel myself in and rethink my approach and true convictions. Thank you for sharing this wonderful story.

Katherine Mikshenas said...

Beautiful post. Very touching, real and inspiring. Thank you for sharing and helping me regain focus on what is real, God's never ending love. God bless you. Keep writing! You are such a blessing!

Anonymous said...

Wow - what a wonderful post!

Gretchen said...

Purse-ue--that Linda is so punny.

I agree. In all my tight-fisted, heel-digging glory, I agree.

Sigh.

You'dathunk that with my recent experiences, I'd remember the lesson of holding fast and firm ONLY to Him, and holding all else with loose hands.

yeah...about that.

This is so right on.

Unknown said...

How absolutely true for all of us. Great post!

Mindy said...

You are such a gifted writer. This post drew me right in and I was experiencing all the emotions right along with her....excitement, fear, regret. And then as I read your confession of things you have done I was convicted of all the same and more. This is what our pastor likes to call walking the "slippery slopes of compromise" and its so easy to get stuck on that slope. But only the Lord can give us that true happines, and His brand is not a knock off.

CJ, The Purple Diva said...

What a wonderful talent you have for writing. I just read and read and read, and am in awe at the words you use to describe each situation. I read this one and the Legacy post. Both are just so wonderful and so inspiring. I just marvel at your great insight.
Thank you, thank you for writing such wonderful words for others to read.

Tales From the Eurovan said...

Hello friend!

I guess I can say, "Been there, done that!" Thank you for the good reminder.

Take care,
Julie

elizabeth embracing life said...

Just imagining this, my son, at the age of 17, also in the city that never sleeps was prey to one of these vendors and decided to follow.....only to have his mommy reach and literally grab his hand.

It's such a relief to know the real from the steal of a deal.

Daphine said...

Wow! Beautifully stated!

Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving comment. I'll be checking back for more of your inspiring reads. You sure have a way with words!

Becca~CapturingSimpleJoys said...

Very thought provoking. We all get tempted and we all fail and fall. Don't we serve a wonderful Savior who is always there to lead us back on the right path?!

Wendi@EveryDayMiracles said...

Yay! I can finally read it. :)
So insightful Angela! Reading your posts are such a special part of my day.

Genny said...

"There is only ONE who brings truth..."

Loved this, Angela. As always, thanks for the great reminder!

Shelley said...

I've definitely experienced this, too many times. And Oh how it hurts when you realize, too late, what you've done. It's been in some of those times though, when I've had to lean the most on my Lord. When I've felt broken by my own actions, and I've felt so horrible about myself. It's been then that I felt the whisper of my Lord telling me that, Yes, I made a mistake, but that He is still there, and He still loves me.

Great post.

And thanks for visiting my little blog. And really? My words are familiar to you? Oh I hope so, for my sake of course! It's so nice to know there are others like my son!

Karen Hossink said...

Amen, sister!
I am so glad I know Jesus is the real deal - that He has revealed Himself to me, and that He lives in me. Nothing compares to Him!!!

Mary said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog! I really like yours, it looks like we are interested in writing about the same kinds of things :)
I look forward to following you!

On Purpose said...

For He is the real thing and He did a real awesome thing when He really gave His son for us...because He really loves us!

Now thats some "real" good stuff that can bounce any knock off! GREAT POST!

Unknown said...

Great post - what a great life lesson. I'm glad I discovered your blog.

stacey said...

Isaiah 44:8&9 are such powerful verses~ Beautifully written!

Julie said...

Beautiful picture, and a great truth......

He IS the truth that sets us free...

Hugs,
Julie

Denise said...

Amen

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