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GROWING
EDGES
 In
the midst of our "celebrity culture," as
we like to call it, I want to put in a word
for the value of anonymity. Frankly,
all this hankering to get noticed runs at
cross-purposes with the gospel of Jesus
Christ. Besides, it is all so mindless.
Many people, for example, act as if it is
some kind of honor to be on television.
Unfortunately, today all we have to do is
act outrageous, and bingo, the media are
there. (And more and more now the key is
to be violently outrageous.) Friends, this
is no honor; it is a sadness and a disgrace.
My
counsel is that we simply turn our back
to all the brouhaha of our media-soaked
society. It is nothing more than a noisy
gong and a clanging cymbal. It is cotton
candy. Besides, most of us will never be
"important" or "noticed" in terms of human
reckoning. Even Andy Warhol's dictum that
each of us gets fifteen minutes of fame
is beyond the reach of most of us. And it
isn't worth the reach anyway.
Now,
being "important" and "valued" is
central to our health and well-being. But
it is an importance and a value that is
worlds apart from the modern gushing over
"the ten most sexy men of 2001." We can
and we should give and receive the honest
affirmation that comes within the warm context
of family and friends. We can and we should
rest contented in the experiential knowledge
that we are of infinite value to our heavenly
Father who loves us utterly. Together these
are wholly sufficient.
We
are therefore free to live our lives quietly
and profoundly. We are at ease in our hiddenness.
We have no need for attention because we
have learned to do ordinary things with
the perception of their enormous value.
In saying this I am not referring to the
kind of "humble mumble" that pretends not
to want attention and all the time is desperately
wishing that someone . . . anyone . . .
will notice. No, here we are fully satisfied.
Truly. And may I just add that this way
of living is not just for individuals but
for groups and churches as well. To be important
from a kingdom perspective we do not have
to be the biggest, the best, or the most
innovative. We simply do our work faithfully
with all our might and we leave the rest
in the hands of God. (It's a good place
to be, you know.)
Now,
at times God, for his own sovereign purposes,
will raise up a person for leadership or
to honor in some special way. And, if this
happens to us, it is a grace to receive,
it is a call to serve, it is a cross to
bear. If given a position of leadership,
we lead as only we follow . . . follow our
Master who leads without guile. If given
honor we accept it thankfully as those who
have done nothing more than receive a gift
of grace. In this way our anonymity is not
really given up, only extended.
Peace
and joy,
Richard J. Foster
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