You’re Not All That
I was creeping on Facebook last night. You know how they put those birthday announcements to the right (“Hey! So-and-so has a birthday. Why not wish them a happy birthday on their wall“)? Well an old friend from my childhood showed up. So I went to his page.
Lo, and behold, he was BALD! Can you believe that?! You would be as amazed as I was if you knew who this was.
He was an athlete.
He was a star.
Girls liked him.
Nerds avoided him.
He attracted cool, know what I’m sayin’?
But now he’s bald! Bald… just like me.
If you’re thinking I’m gloating… (well, okay. I have to admit. The first thing I did when I saw his picture, I ran and told my wife) …I admit I was. But as I returned to my computer, it hit me (and by “it” I mean the Holy Spirit. And by “hit” I mean convicted): We are all the same in so many ways.
We all have fears.
We all have failures.
We all have abilities and strengths.
We all have a date with death.
We all need air.
We all need food, water, a savior.
If you’re reading this and you are feeling low about who you are, shift your perspective to WHOSE you are and be encouraged. More importantly, if you’re reading this and you have thousands of Twitter followers and Facebook fans who hang on every word you say and who think you’re so cool because you wrote a book, shift your perspective to WHOSE you are and be humbled. Like the song goes, “heroes come and heroes go.” Kneeling will be the great equalizer as we each look into the face of the loving God who will judge us each on that one day.
The Moral
The moral of this post? For me? Okay, I’ll let you in on a few of the things the Holy Spirit said to me:
> Don’t think too highly of yourself. Don’t share blog posts, tweets, Google+ updates, Facebook updates and LinkedIn discussions about personal growth if you aren’t growing yourself.
> Every set of eyes you lock on to every day represents insecurity, fear, self-condemnation, and is in need of unconditional love.
> You’re just a vapor. Smoke wisely.
> There will always be those with more possessions, abilities, strengths than you. Get over it. Life is not judged by those things.
> Your task is simple: Listen hard until you hear the voice of God. Then… obey.
I’m slowing getting the point. And you know what? Bald isn’t all that bad after all. 
Been introduced to Jesus…
Okay – for the record – I like bald men – I think it’s sexy – so it doesn’t bother me in the least when I see it on facebook or in person. But it’s the aging in the face that I notice. Some old friends look REALLY OLD. It’s the mileage – or maybe it’s the genes – I don’t know – all I know – is that my 92 year old grandmother didn’t have ONE WRINKLE – her skin was amazing – she took care of herself – and my 84 year old mother looks the same. I think joy and happiness has something to do with that – depression and sadness does take it’s toll on people – along with drugs and alcohol abuse. What’s really depressing is finding someone you used to DATE in high school and finding out – they’re GAY! Yeah – that’s my story – and it’s not fun. I wish I had more courage in high school to stand up for what I believed. I wanted to be accepted back then – and the only reason this goody two shoes was even accepted at least a tiny little bit – was because I could sing – and I was in the top Jazz group for our school. I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere like dances or anything – so everyone knew how weird and different I was. I would change that if I could go back. I would go to those dances and be a light in a very dark world – instead of being yanked back from it. I think more Christian young people are a part of the social aspects of their schools and it’s a great positive influence. We allowed our kids to do this – and we knew they had a solid enough upbringing and they ended up being leaders and role models – wish I could have done that in my school – instead everyone thought I was weird.
Cindy Holman recently posted..How’s Your Garden?
Thanks for the insight you’ve both added to the dialog. Christ and being a light in a dark world. May we each be able to seize the God-moments He provides for us in this day and each day forward.
Last year was the 25th anniversary of my high school graduation. It’s amazing how gray and/or bald, wrinkly and pudgy many of us have become. Some have aged more gracefully than others, but we’re all getting older. I’m reminded of my mortality, and just how fleeting our time is. I wish I could have been more aware of this in high school. I probably would have had a more gracious attitude.
Larry Hehn recently posted..How Content Are You?
Larry, wouldn’t it be great to go back with what we know now? How petty some of the drama would look, huh?
Thanks for sharing. Time does fleet, doesn’t it?