On Oct 10, 2007 Rebecca posted a message titled "Living An Authentic Life", in which she stressed that 'being real and being vulnerable' is part of an authentic Christian life. In her early 20’s, moved away from Australia and touring for thirteen months she struggled with 'loneliness, exhaustion, ... the upheaval in my life ... a lot of feelings of sadness and loneliness and just feeling as if there was literally no light at the end of the tunnel'. When people were asking how she was doing, she would reply 'actually not so good' - instead of just saying ‘Fine!’.
Although authenticity is not about complaining all the time, it certainly does not mean that if you feel sad, you have to cover it up, and you show up stronger than you really are. Christians often imagine they should always 'be glad in the Lord', but of course there is a difference between being glad inwardly and being it outwardly, thinking you have to suggest it even while it isn't true. Being authentic means being credible. Rebecca quoted Luke 8:17, about hearing the word of God "in an honest and good heart" (NASB translation). If it is really Gods word working out something in our hearts, the result cannot be untrustworthy. Better be sad and honest than sad and telling a lie on top of that. No one is really served with lies.
Rebecca's short thought on authenticity was probably written down some time before it appeared on the site - it did not mention the death of her beloved maternal grandma, Jean Francis, on Monday of that week. Although her grandma 'went to be with Jesus' (message of Oct 11) it certainly meant that authentic life was being tested for Rebecca. It led to some curious expressions of sad feelings by Rebecca. On Oct 14 we could read:
My dear friends,
Thank you SO much for the overwhelming response of sympathy and love that you have shown to me and my family over the last few days. You have truly blessed us with your compassion and prayers. So many of you related to what we are going through right now and it definitely has made us feel united with you. The funeral was hard, especially as it was my first, but the 'celebration service' afterwards was beautiful. She was an amazing woman of God and we were all proud to know her. Thanks again for your kindness to us and may God be close to you as you walk with Him today.
With love,
Rebecca
This I would say is the typical language of real life (that is: authentic, credible life). Here is an artist who had been shining authenticity about the love and joy she found in Jesus, for many years. At the occasion of this first funeral of a family member, once again we see an authentic Rebecca.
Rebecca's mother (Helen) too of course, must have suffered a lot from the death of her own mother. We sense something about it in the letter written to her by Rebecca's brother Joel, which was published on the site at the request of 'the family' on Oct 13 for the good reason that "it's a memory the Smallbone family would like you to share". Indeed, the sharing of things - including painful memories - is a part of living that authentic life. Christianity, just like her counter-part Judaism, has always been a community-thing. There exists no such thing like a 'one-member Christianity'. It exists as a 'church', a 'body', a 'flock'. The Psalms are expressions meant to be chanted in the midst of the community. Including those Psalms which speak of the sufferings in life.
Joel's letter ended with the note: "What a wonderful Grandmother, mother, wife and friend we had!"
Yes, it is a wonderful life - particularly the life of our beloved when we share our thoughts about it. Christian life is in itself not always looking that wonderful. But when we, being this large Christian family, start to share, a particular richness of life is disclosed. Even in sad times we then may realize that. The sharing of suffering within a family makes them realize that they are one. The sharing of suffering within the Christian family makes us realize that 'We are one in the Spirit'. And to quote another part of that song (on the album Transform):
We believe in the Son
And that's what makes us one
I wished I'd had such a Nanna, even if she would only live in my memories. Perhaps we should more share our Nannas - particularly those who demonstrably have had a positive, authentic impact upon 2 generations after them.
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