Saturday, March 10, 2012

Who Am I?

      I used to spend a lot of time wishing I had someone else's life. I used to dream of being a rock-star, a singer songwriter, an astronaut, a theologian, the pastor of a mega-church, a scientist, a leader of leaders, an author, a pastor of pastors, a teacher, an academic, a denominational executive, an artist, an actor, a photographer, . . . . In later years I have met rock-stars, singer songwriters, theologians, pastors of mega churches, scientists, leaders of leaders, authors, pastors of pastors, teachers, academics, denominational executives, artists, actors, photographers, . . . . I don't think I have ever met an astronaut but I read Neil Armstrong's authorized biography and that cured me of wanting to be an astronaut. For some periods of my life I have actually had the opportunity to do some of these things on my list of jobs I wanted to have and people I wanted to be. I have discovered that the lives of these other people are not as glamorous as I thought they might be.

      Actors, singers, and rock-stars speak of the treadmill on which they find themselves. They must always look over their shoulder because there is always someone coming up behind them who is younger, better-looking, or a better singer who is seeking to take their place on the hamster wheel of fame and fortune. Most of these people also dream of being something and someone else. Some of these people I have met have actually wished they had my life. What madness is this that overtakes us all!

      I lamented to my theologian, pastor, scientist friend (yes, he is all of those things rolled into one career) that I felt I had never done anything significant in my life. He shocked me when he said that an hour ago he had been lamenting the same thing. Why can't I be content with my lot? What drives me to always want to be someone else? How can I keep learning how to be content in all things? How can I keep learning to be the person God made me to be?

1 comment:

Keith Shields said...

Rod added this comment via FaceBook:

Amen brother! Yep. I have an astronaut friend, in fact I've known a few. They be crazy. Mario, who lives just down from us, had brain surgery on a wednesday, and played a hockey game against us on Sunday! How crazy is that. Mike Barratt, a good friend says he would be the first volunteer to go to MARS and he really means it. He's nuts! If we could only say with Paul, I have learned the secret...He did without and with, and was content. This wacky culture drives us all to discontent. Heck, even the latest State Farm commercials are subtley trying to get you to be unhappy with your wife, if you can imagine. Keep up the good blogging my man. Rod

Thanks Rod.