Ever Have An Out-of-Body Experience?

Ever had an out of body experience? I have, several times, and it’s always deals with the same thing.

I was driving down the road, hand draped over the steering wheel, drumming a beat on the dash as I hummed the song on the radio. Suddenly I had this surreal feeling, like I was seeing myself from a different vantage point. It was an epiphany and a visual experience. Another occasion I had just gotten out of bed with a terrible cold. As I walked toward the bathroom I found myself making this unconscionable noise but it wasn’t me; it was as if I were an observer looking at myself. Sometimes these times are accompanied by the experience of “deja-vu”: An intense feeling that you have experienced the exact thing, time and moment before.

As I said, I’ve had this happen on several occasions, all revealing the same inescapable truth. As I watched myself; a rush of self-knowledge, a moment of Zen enlightenment struck me: “I was my Dad!” Not only had I left my body; he had taken over! Sayings, sounds, habits, all things I had observed him doing as a child; out of nowhere, here I was, but not me; it was him, doing those same things as I watched!

You have had that happen! Haven’t you? A moment where you found yourself reflecting; imitating reflexively someone you thought you never would. (obviously any references to "out-of-body" experiences were satirical.)

The reality: We imitate the people we are surrounded by. We imitate the individuals we value; the ones we esteem. Who are the people, shaping your life and ministry? We were meant to mature in community, being mentored and influenced by the mature. How do you define this quality, “mature”, in today’s world? As you chew on this and kick it around with your peers, remember this:

Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.

Imitate God! So what’s that look like? The rest of this section, in light of all our youth experience in their world: The blue humor, the innuendo, and the open contempt for purity; has a bit to say…. dig in.