Rough Road to Real

This is the third piece in a series aimed to help us find “Real Life and Real Love” with the help of a classic children’s book, The Velveteen Rabbit.

There is a longing in every heart for an elusive ‘something’ we often can’t even define — let alone FIND. The always insightful and articulate, C.S. Lewis puts it this way: “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”

Let’s continue with the toys of The Velveteen Rabbit to find our way to the real that never disappoints.

The last piece in this series left us with the Skin Horse telling the Rabbit that it’s rough to become real … that those who need to be pampered and comforted will quit before real happens. As Lewis pointed out, we are made for another world – we must not be quitters, but we can’t rely on ourselves. So, what can we do? Seek to know the One in whose image you are created!

Friend, you are made in the image of the Most High God – and real in this world requires a commitment to knowing Him, to finding the Way.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).

It is Jesus who calls us to real and empowers us with His Spirit to press on. As the writer of Hebrews said, “we are not those who shrink back… (Hebrews 10:39). But we must realize the road to real is rough, listen in to Skin Horse’s words:

"Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby."

How are you feeling today? Shabby? Wobbly? Maybe blind? The dreams you once had are so far away, you can’t see them at all. Take heart. It’s all part of the process. You are here — on purpose and for a purpose. The Sovereign God who made you is truly working all things together for good. Faith in Him is the Way to move forward.

In Williams’ story, the Rabbit’s desire to be real was countered by his desire to look good. We often don’t recognize pride in ourselves. Pride is a deep, deep pit on the journey to real – and all of us fall into it (often many times throughout our journey). It’s a sneaky pit that usually begins with good intentions.

God has placed a longing in our hearts for lives that matter. The world gives us a variety of lists we can begin to work through so we look good. Checklists feel good. We can tick off our accomplishments and revel in our progress. We find comfort in our doing and embrace the lie that our efforts are the key to fulfilling our longing.

For some, the lie draws them to pursue fulfillment in a career. Others seek approval (from others or themselves). Money allures many … the lies, the temptations are unique to each of us. But the Way to real is also The Truth, remember John 14:6?

One path, in particular, deserves a few extra words. The religious path. It is the ultimate “good intention” and its rather smooth in appearance, but its paved by the enemy of our soul, the deceptive angel of light. He persuades us that reading the Bible, praying, saying the right things, and going to church will deliver us to that ethereal place we long for. It’s a lie and reveals a truth about every false path.

The best lies always have a shred of truth. We choose false paths for good reasons…every sin is an attempt to meet a need. Religious performance happens because one seeks Jesus. Workaholics and money lovers often enter those paths for good reasons like caring for loved ones. Failure is NOT final when you’re seeking the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Thankfully, every false path (based on a lie) leads to the pit of pride – and ultimately collapses on us.

Our Creator – the One whose image we bear – will not let us be comfortable in lies. The longing will keep pressing on us! The only way to Jesus is love that propels to obedience — even in difficult situations. Every path but love will puff us up instead of building us up. Thankfully, we have a Sovereign God who will put us where we need to be to find His Way … and it’s usually a rough road!

The Bible calls circumstances “the strong hand of God.” And usually, we arrive on the path of life (and truth) through no choice of our own. In the Velveteen Rabbit, our little longing hero found himself pressed into service when the ‘preferred toy’ was missing. Tossed onto the bed of the Boy with the less than affirming words of “He’ll do,” was Rabbit’s doorway to real.

Have you ever been tossed into a spot you really weren’t sure you liked … a spot where you didn’t feel wanted? It’s uncomfortable, and most of us like being in places that aren’t too demanding, places where we feel valued and special. But those aren’t the places that lead us to real. Can you relate to Rabbit’s experience?

“At first he [the rabbit] found it rather uncomfortable, for the Boy hugged him very time, and sometimes, he rolled over on him, and sometimes…he could scarcely breathe.”

Paul said God chooses the lesser things of the world … we don’t like thinking of ourselves as lesser. But the door to real is really low. Humility is the key to kingdom of God. Hard times and rough roads aren’t to destroy us – they are evidence of a loving God calling us to know Him more, to realize both our need and our destiny.

The world portrays love as soft and sweet, ah, but love is rough. Love looks like the Cross. You’ll never get to real without Love. 

All creation, all that is really real,  is the overflow of God Himself – He spoke and things came into being. Getting to know God, who is Love, is the journey to real.

Love is the only all-sufficient power source, but real love is revealed in God, by God –not through the proclamations of Hallmark or self-designed martyrdom.

Love is a way of suffering that is accepted because of HOPE. When we truly know who God is, we find the strength and courage to be loved — and to love. 

There is so much more to see and treasure about the journey to real – will you continue to press on with me? Oh, friend, don’t shrink back – follow along with this Velveteen Heart series and be amazed at what God has planned. Real is worth it!