The Truest Thing About You

David Lomas’s The Truest Thing About You is a book on reflection…. on how one’s life connects with what their religious/spiritual side, specifically as a Christian.  Those exploring their journey of faith development will be pushed to reflect on their own lives while reading this book. 

Lomas, a pastor for the Reality Church in San Francisco, CA, is a young man, recently married and shares the challenges and joys that are inherent in the struggle of life.  The key message of the book is that we should not believe we are our jobs, our relationships, or the things we have, we should dig deep through reflection on what are inner core represents to determine what the truest thing is for each of us.  Lomas draws from authors/role models from various walks of life, to include:  noted writer C.S. Lewis; Saint Catherine of Siena; Soren Kirkegaard, and NYU’s own faculty extraordinaire Kwame Appiah.  I love his reflection on why “community” in our society today.  He notes: 

… it means that no matter what profession we find ourselves in – no matter what we do – we live by a different set of rules.  Whether we are raising kids, banking, making sculpture, studying, or practicing law, we see ourselves being sent into our jobs as stewards of the time, talents, and resources that a higher being has endowed and gifted us with.  Culture, simply is what happens when humans live together, from the smallest to the most sprawling city.  … it’s what happens when we contribute to our families and society, it’s what happens when we’re kind to strangers, when we honor the dignity of the simplest job, and when we look for opportunities to serve others. 

His final passage reinforces his over message:

You will not find your identity in what you have, but in who has you.  You will not find your identity in what you do, but in what has been done for you.  And you will not find your identity in what you desire, but in who has desired – at infinite cost to Himself – a relationship with you…

Truer words never spoken.  A different type of book for sure, but again, illustrates the complexity and commitment of the NYU student to be passionate about being committed to self-awareness and knowledge of something bigger than a dollar bill.  Great insights and quick read in those 200 pages.