WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE?

WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE?

“The grace of God means something like: Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn't have been complete without you.”

Frederic Buechner

I had two thoughts when I read this quote. First, I never heard of this person and it makes me want to know more.  So this summer I will get one of his 35 books and see what he is all about. Then I thought, what a delightful way of telling people that their very existence is important. It is important to God and should be so regarded by everyone else.

It is very common for people to shy away from any idea that they have value. For some reason we have developed the idea that considering ourselves as valuable to the world is somehow wrong.  We never want to be considered egotistical or proud and we disdain anyone who does declare their value.  Jesus actually cautioned us to avoid this error when he said that we should not hide our light under a bushel basket!

Throughout the Acts of the Apostles we read of those who embraced the message of Christ and how they were transformed into what they called people of light.  We should all feel that.  We are duty-bound to go as deep as necessary to find that light. Then nurture it, keep it growing and filling our hearts so that everyone who comes in contact with us feels valued.

Now the problem is, that when we are told to see God in people, we come up against a really difficult task.  It is easier and better, I think, to try to understand what God sees in them.  We know, whether we want to acknowledge it or not, that everyone has value in His eyes.  We certainly find comfort and joy in that knowledge for ourselves. So why are we so reluctant to admit it in others?  We have to ask ourselves who do we think we are? 

There is so much more to a person than their outward appearance or even what they have done.  The one thing we are really good at, but shouldn’t do, is make judgments about others. I am always reminded of the police detective in the Michael Connelly books, Harry Bosch.  He was asked why he was working so hard to find out who killed a homeless man.  He replied, “Everybody counts.”  That is God’s opinion as well. 

On his last hours on earth, Jesus cautioned his disciples to keep his commandments.

There were only two: Love God and love your neighbor.  It would behoove us to remember that they are equal in importance in his eyes. 

Blessings

Carol Lemelin OPA