Required Summer Reading

   As part of the required Summer Reading at Wofford College this year, we were required to read a book called "Old School" by Tobias Wolff. The story in itself was pretty well written in my opinion, but my focus for now is on the theme of the story. The theme of authenticity.
   We were to read the book and write an essay on how the theme of authenticity played a role in the story. There were many points in the story where the characters seemed to lose both their authenticity and their identity. For lack of authenticity generally points to lack of identity.
   However, this reminds me that our lives should be as authentic as our Faith, and our Faith as authentic as our Bibles. Let me explain this second part. This is stating that our lives should reflect a Faith that is always grounded, on a solid foundation, not ashamed in any way. When we pick up our Bibles to read them, they do not disappear from our hands all of a sudden and then come back. The pages are not wiped blank spontaneously. The Bible remains the same, and so should our Faith, and so should its reflection on our lives!
   God is "I AM" and Jesus is the Son of God. God and Jesus both stated these statements themselves. Why? Because They are 100% authentic by telling who They are. We should do the same as we show others that we are sons of God and disciples of Christ!