“There is no effectual teacher but God. We can receive no more than he is pleased to communicate” (John Newton, “Out of the depths”).
I can’t be what others want, Lord,
Nor behave as others do,
Can’t believe what others think:
I can only learn from you.
I can’t share how others feel, Lord,
Nor repeat the prayers they know,
Can’t join with their hymns of praise:
That would only be a show.
I can’t serve as others do, Lord,
Nor attempt to start anew,
Can’t perceive your perfect light:
I can only cling to you.
I can’t live like other people,
Nor enjoy their sturdy health,
Can’t be like them, Lord, at all:
I can only be myself.
We need to discover who we actually are, rather than trying to be as we wish we could be, as we think we should be, or, worst of all, as others expect us to be (Author unknown).