June 12, 2010

• What role model do you live by?

  Did you have role models when you were growing up?  People you wanted to be like when you grew up, heroes and sheroes if you will.  Lift up the names of some of your role models.  Do you have role models now, people you admire and who mentor you?  Have you ever had the experience of seeing or hearing of your hero doing something that disappointed you?  I grew up believing my father knew everything and could do anything.  When I went away to college and was exposed to a broader world than Midland, Michigan provided, I found out my father had grown up with a negative view of some people, my father was prejudiced and I was crushed when I learned this.  I am proud to say my father was able to give up his prejudices as a result of being willing to meet people different from himself and discovering they were just people like himself, some he liked, some he didn’t, but it had nothing to do with racial or cultural differences.  I think most, if not all of us have been disappointed when someone we look up to has proven themselves to just be human with the failings that implies.

   

  How we pick our role models is also interesting, some of our role models are the people who are close to us, the people who have taught us and helped to mold the person we are today.  Others are people who have come to our attention because of some talent or notoriety.  I am a child of the John F. Kennedy era.  He became such a big influence on me because of the change he brought in the attitude of the country, but also because he died serving his country.  People have revealed information about him that has caused some to question his moral character and his political tactics.  I do not know how true the stories are and it really doesn’t matter to me, I have great respect for his efforts to revitalize this country and the great sacrifice he and his family made because of his willingness to serve.  There are others who have a great talent such as acting or singing that brings them notoriety and they become role models while their talent has little to do with strong character or wisdom.  We build these people up to be bigger than life and then set about to prove how flawed they are, it seems to be an obsession.  I do not know why we would assume a great actor or musician would have greater insight into how to live a noble life than someone who struggles each day just to get by.  I am impressed by those who gain notoriety and then use their time in the public spotlight to speak out in behalf of causes to make this world a more compassionate place to live.  What makes a person a role model has less to do with their talent and more to do with what they do with the talents God has given them.

   

  The same is true of political leaders, they are due respect because of the office they hold, but being elected does not mean you are a positive role model.  I have heard it said, “We are all examples, some good and some bad.”  I hope for a time when we elect our leaders not based upon their slogans, or their media images, or even whether we agree with everything they say and elect our leaders instead on whether they are intelligent enough to make wise decisions, whether they are compassionate enough to serve those who are powerless, and spirited enough not to walk away from the hard questions.  I believe we often need leaders who are willing to tell us truths we do not want to hear.  It is not possible for the government to do more and cost us less, it is not possible for us to reduce our dependence on oil without changing our way of life, and it is not possible for 10% of the world’s population to consume 90% of the world’s resources without conflict.  We need to find leaders and role models that will treat us like adults and not like spoiled children who want our way without cost.  We need role models we can trust to be honest with us.

   

  I believe there is only one role model we can place all of our trust in and not be disappointed, that role model is the Word of God.  If we seek to model our lives in the way God has revealed to us, we will not have to fear that our role model was flawed or ill informed.  I believe God knows how difficult it is for us to model our lives after God’s will and so God made God’s word flesh and the Word lived among us in the life of Jesus.  Modeling our lives after Jesus is clearer but probably not easier.  I think we seek other role models because it is easier to live like the people close to us or like someone famous and there is a built in excuse when we fail because our role models fail.  Jesus never failed, no matter what the world threw at him, he responded with understanding, no matter how great the demands, he responded with service, and no matter how great the hate, he responded with love.  Responding in such a way does not come naturally to any of us, we must keep our focus on the Word and not be distracted by worldly role models that teach us it is not practical to live as Jesus did.  One of my fears as a clergy person is that people will chose to make me their spiritual role model, trust me this is not a good plan.  I struggle just like you do to know the right thing for me to do.  I have to work just like everyone else not to model my actions after what the world teaches is the best way.  I am not here to show you, or tell you what God wants you to do or be.  I am here as a guide.  I spend my time with the Word to try to find wisdom for the journey to share with you.  I seek to be open to the leading of the Spirit so our conversations together can be Spirit led.  I am not here to be the enforcer of God’s will, I am not here to judge your actions or motives, and I am not here to lay down the law and make sure you all behave.  I am much more a preacher of grace than law.  I hope my actions and my words reflect my faith but I do not hope you will use me as your role model.  You have the Word and that is the only safe model for you to live by.  Amen.

  • 4:26 pm
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