"Therefore do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2 NIV)
I’ve talked about the Enneagram before on the blog. If you are unfamiliar, it’s an incredibly helpful tool in understanding ourselves and others. When we have a better grasp of who we are, then we can gain a better grip on who we want to become. We can also learn acknowledge and appreciate the personality differences in the people around us.
I’m a Two. My mother was a Two and my son is a Two. We share this special connection because we inherently understand the motivation of each other’s hearts. We tend to value the same things, communicate with similar tones and inferences, offer each other the same level of care and affection. Twos are labeled as Helpers and we tend to be service-oriented, compassionate and (at least on the surface) altruistic. We can also be passive aggressive, manipulative and deeply resentful. We pride ourselves in taking care of others and pretending to be needless ourselves. Something else I’ve discovered along the way is how we have tofu hearts.
I remember the very first time I tried tofu. A junior high Home Economics provided the opportunity. Someone more experienced, maybe my teacher, said “It’s okay if you don’t like the flavor it’s because you don’t like what it’s paired with, not the tofu itself. Tofu takes on the flavor of the other ingredients.”
My distaste grew to hatred. Tofu is a fraud. A protein parading about stealing interest from other ingredients. Tofu is simply a thirsty sponge soaking up whatever it can find to fit in. Tofu doesn’t make waves or infuse taste, it simply exists, doing it’s best to blend in with the dish it’s thrown in with.
I was born with a tofu heart. I am prone to take on the flavor and temperament of the people around me. I’m convinced it’s a Two thing because most of the Helpers I know trend toward tofu-ing. We let others pick the venue, the menu and the movie. It’s not that we don’t have an opinion, but that we’ve buried it deep because what we like most is making others happy. What an impossible goal! How hard on the soul!
I was today years old when I realized, my tofu heart was not an accident or mis-design. Twos like me were made to take on the flavor of God. We do this through time in His presence and His Word. In His sanctuary, we allow our soul to sponge up His Spirit to the point of super-saturation. We protect ourselves from tofu-ing with others by already being full-to-the-brim with God.
“So let all that I am be consumed with Your presence. All the glory of Your presence, what more could I ask for?”
With You, Elevation Worship
"My cup overflows." (Psalm 23:5b NIV)
Lord, please forgive us every time we conform to anything less than You. May our hearts be soft to Your Word and Spirit, willingly transformed into Your likeness. Saturate us with Your presence that we might full-to-the-brim, bringing Jesus into every situation. Amen.