Portrait of a Fully Alive Human Being

"The Glory of God is a human being who is fully alive." - Saint Irenaeus

I read a quote recently that said “The Glory of God is a human being who is fully alive!” (Saint Irenaeus, in the 2nd century). Rick Warren, in his popular book, The Purpose Driven Life, beautifully expanded on this idea by devoting an entire chapter of his book to the subject of glorifying God in and through our lives.

Nature, is a perfect example of God’s creation glorifying him. Whether it’s a snowcapped mountain, a towering oak, an eagle, a leaf, a goldfish or an ant there’s a certain wonder that comes with the simplicity of being all we’re created to be.

Nature doesn’t have to work at being beautiful or extraordinary or a sight that will take your breath away. It just IS and that’s what makes it absolutely breathtaking. It automatically submits to its purpose and it’s that submission that leads to its ultimate destiny.

It’s interesting to me, that the things that have no free will are often more beautiful and glorious than the things that do, namely people. Countless individuals roam the earth week after week searching for themselves? They’ve lost the core of who they are and they seek to find that innate flame that somehow got blown out by their perception of life.

It’s sad that the “rules” of the modern world often promise us so much yet leave us stranded amid the wind blown sand of our deserted soul. Trading our uniqueness for uniformity is so common in society that we often overlook its destructiveness and accept it as common practice. An “effortless,” natural way of living so easily gets replaced by a life of striving and stress.

But that’s not how God meant it. God made each of us with a unique purpose that only we can fulfill. This special purpose lies dormant inside each of us until we are awakened by a burning desire to have it. When we make a decision to shake off the shackles of modern world thinking and truly be who we’re meant to be, we become like the snowcapped mountain, the towering oak, the eagle or the ant. We join the happy side of creation…..those that choose to submit to what they truly are. We become as Saint Iranaeus said, “a human being who is fully alive!” 

There is nothing complicated or stress filled about being who you truly are. This is our natural state and it is our duty to plug into this truth. Tapping into our inner desires, dreams and God’s special will for us enables us to have the same kind of freedom that all of creation basks in. When we grasp this truth and claim it for ourselves God is glorified and we enter into the life that we are truly meant to live!

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(c) 2006 Barb Elyett. Barb Elyett is a Canadian Singer/Songwriter, Recording Artist, Speaker, Author, and President and Founder of Aleta Records. Her articles have been published extensively on and offline, and have impacted people all over the world in a positive way. Barb's new album, The Simple Side, has recently been released and is receiving wonderful reviews from its listeners. The album continues to be promoted throughout North America and abroad. Sign up for Barb's FREE So Alive Inside newsletter at www.barbelyett.com. You'll be glad you did!

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