I have a writers block but also something to share so we shall see if I can work through it.
I was having a conversation with a guy who has experienced more in his life than I can imagine. Through all of the people he has talked to, he said that more than wanting to be known, people want to be understood. I would have to agree.
I took a personality test the other day and felt very understood as I read website after website that describes my rare, 1% of the population, INFJ Meyer's Briggs personality. I just kept thinking "so I am not crazy and abnormal, I can actually be understood!".
Sadly, I have have that the desire to be understood can turn very selfish. If I am lonely and another friend comes around...I want them to know me! I think this has a direct correlation with where I "feel" I am with the Lord. Do I see that He understands me?
What do you think? Do you think we want to be understood more than we want to be known? Do you think this desire can be satisfied? Also, just out of curiosity, have you taken the Meyer's Briggs test? If so, what are your letters?
Hi Heather, thanks for sharing your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteThose are interesting questions...I think I would say that I fear to be fully understood, since God has already revealed the condition of my heart:
Jer 17:9-10: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? "I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."
But I like the perspective of David in Psalm 139, where he praises God for His complete omniscience, calls on Him to test and sanctify him, and commits himself to knowing God ("How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!" v.7).
Anyway, when I first took the Myers-Briggs test, I was ISTJ (your typical engineer)...but I took it again years later and was something like INTJ, though I'm not sure. There's a point at which introspection becomes a little frustrating. :-P
I love those personality tests, really anything that has to do with personality types and psychology. I think it's so amazing to learn more about your own personality, to understand yourself better. It can provide a much clearer picture of your own strengths and weaknesses. Who couldn't benefit from that?
ReplyDeleteLevi and I both are 1% of the population. I'm INFP and he's INTP. It's amazing how well those descriptions fit us both. It's almost a little creepy to read about INFPs and realize how well it describes me. I think the neatest thing is, even though we all fit into one of those Myers-Briggs categories, we're each so incredibly unique. We have different nuances and idiosyncrasies that separate us from others in the same group. And what we do about those strengths and weaknesses, well, that speaks volumes.
Daniel, thanks for the comment! I honestly think I want to be completely known. It is when our hearts are exposed that we are able to change. When I acknowledge the sin in my heart that is when the Lord is able to work on it.
ReplyDeleteI think the desire to be known comes from God because it is God who satisfies it (as you pointed out with your Psalm 139 reference) and it causes us to seek Him and remember that He DOES know us.
You are right, to most, introspection can be quite frustrating. However, there are a few of us out there that actually enjoy it. Which, can be a very dangerous thing. That is why I am learning to voice thoughts so that I have accountability with them.
Hannah, I think everyone must be a part of 1% of the population. The 99% are probably those who have never taken the Myers-Briggs test! Haha!
ReplyDeleteYou are right about how unique we all are. The personality test can tell us who we are, we are telling the test who we are but it is by no means able to understand us fully. I am so thankful to know that God knows who I fully am and is fighting for His truth to reign in my life.
On another topic, I really do want to come visit you sometime. I was hoping I would be able to find the time during my Spring break but alas it was not so! I am keeping my eye open on my Calendar so that I can come see your "not so new" place!
Yeah, there are a good number of personalities that are 1% but I think I remember seeing some that were as high as 10%. Makes me wonder if being in the 1% shapes our personalities. It's like a self-fulfilling prophecy. =)
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on enjoying introspection (I'm the same personality type as Isabel Myer, who created that myers-briggs test.. no surprpise there. We like to know ourselves and understand others). Introspection helps me understand my place in the body of Christ and learn to appreciate the person God created. I think it's mostly dangerous when we focus solely on the creation and lose sight of the Creator. It's all about perspective.
I would love to have you come visit! Whenever it works out for you, just let me know.