"Be What You Is"

Back in our California years, we had a little plaque which read:

"Be what you is. Because if you be what you ain't, then you ain't what you is."

It's a little silly. It's a whole lot wise.

That saying came to my mind this morning while I looked through a 1994 issue of the now-defunct magazine, Victoria. Back then, Victoria was a much-loved magazine for we subscribers who adored all things Victorian and nostalgic. For porch-sitters who wanted to dream within it's perfume-sample-flap pages. Victoria was the only magazine I ever truly got lost inside.

Then they changed it. 

Ruined it, actually. Former lovers of the magazine unsubscribed in droves because the new editor replaced the Victorian dreaminess with a modern sleekness which was creeping into magazines everywhere. Suddenly Victoria's photography became sparse and stream-lined and everyone knows when you streamline Victoriana you change its essential nature. 

When Victoria went under a couple years ago they cited money problems due to being unable to find just the right readership. But we readers knew the truth--Victoria's staff tried to please everyone and hey! That never works.

This, then, reminded me of a Christian radio station we listened to during our Nevada years. They had set hours for older-style music--hymns and choruses-- and other hours for more contemporary music 'for the younger generation.' Maybe that wasn't perfect, but at least you could rely upon certain times for whichever music you preferred. 

But then, after a few complaints from people, the station played only one type of music to try to please the most people. All songs became 'middle of the road'. 

Everyone hated it. 

Well, everyone I ever talked to after that change was made. In trying to please everyone, they ended up pleasing no one.

The greatest people I've known (or read about) are those who knew exactly what they were called to do and they did it. They didn't take surveys and ask everyone what they should do next. Not asking for votes, they didn't change what they were doing because a couple people complained. When they made changes (as most successful people will do as they grow) they made those changes because out of obedience to God and because they were necessary to reach the next step.

And yes, listening to elders who are wise and 'have been there' is very important. But in the end? When we stand before God, we'll be held accountable for taking the steps God wanted us to take. For seeing our callings through under God's direction.

There's more to this--a lot more. But this is just what I'm thinking about today--that I need to 'be what I is' while I learn and grow and realize that's good enough.



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