Hidden Myths and Unknown Expectations

Until I reached this age in my life I never realized the hidden myths and unknown expectations that were buried beneath my conscious level of thinking. I guess growing up in America when I did caused this “myth” to be implanted in my subconscious. The Myth was “when your children turn 18 or 21 (or complete school) the parent is free of responsibility.” I don’t know where I got that. I guess I heard over and over that when you finish high school or college you are old enough to be on your own and you should get a job and support yourself financially. I imagined that the mother and father were then free to concentrate on their latter years with utter disregard for their progeny who were now successfully weaned and independent. If you still think my “myth” is true, wait a few years.

Only very recently have I realized I had an expectation that had never surfaced. I really felt, or anticipated, that at this point in my life (age 57 and married for 36 years) I would be financially secure and set for my senior years. At an even deeper level I think I felt that I would also be independent in that I no longer had to trust God for my “daily bread.” “Give us our daily bread,” was for young people just starting out—not for educated people with good jobs and successful careers. That sounds terrible when you write it down. Theologically I would have agreed you will always have to acknowledge God in all things and not lean on your own understanding and prowess. But that wasn’t the reality at the core of my subconscious.

Jesus said, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” The Greek word for truth, alethia, can be translated, “that which is real.” Only when we see what is truly real can we be set free. More than at any time in my life I have to pray and exercise faith when I pray “give us this day our daily bread.” I, my wife, and our family are more dependent on the goodness of God now than at any point in our lives. With my mind I know this is a good place to be but my will and emotions still get really shaky some days! All too often I feel like the man with the demon possessed mute son when Jesus told him, " 'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief."

I do believe and have enough experience to back up my belief. So, I shouldn't need to ask God to "help my unbelief" so often--but I do! I also need to ask the Holy Spirit to search me and reveal any more "hidden myths" and "unknown expectations."