August 2010                                    

Recently, a kind friend lent me his personal assistant and driver as a gift for the day. My phone rang at 7:43 in the morning.  Jessica and the car would arrive in two minutes.  I said, “Thank you” and by the time I walked outside, there was Jessica (she and I had become friends over the years) smiling, a decaf latte in her hand and holding the back door open.  I accepted the coffee and sat in the back where the morning newspaper lay neatly folded.  I asked Jessica how she knew I liked decaf and she said that she noticed that it was my preference at morning meetings.  

The car and driver was a unique experience of pampering.  I was dropped off and picked up throughout the day – never had to park – never late to a meeting.  When I would hop out of the car, I was asked if there were any errands I needed to have run.  I finally said, “There’s a bank deposit I need to make.”  When I returned to the car an hour later, the deposit’s receipt was in an envelope by my seat. As I left a lunch meeting, it began to rain. I exited the entrance of the restaurant and there was Jessica with an umbrella in hand.  At the end of the day, she offered to pick up a take-out for meal for dinner for me and my family. Jessica said that I was a very appreciative passenger!

As the day progressed, I began to reflect on this rare opportunity afforded to me (I felt like I had a personal chauffer and limo).  During those 9 hours my feelings ranged from feeling lucky and out of place to illusions of exaggerated self-importance.  It’s a small step from this point to being judgmental, haughty or indifferent toward the world outside.

Any resource, asset or gift can easily distract us from the realities of who we are and the needs of others.
Often these assets elicit pride, our old nemesis.  Pride, called by C.S. Lewis the “great sin”,  is often based on our vain attempts to judge our self worth by comparing ourselves with others. It is tempting to focus on other people’s use of money or time and neglect the more awkward self-examination of our own indulgences.

As our faith in God grows and deepens, all of life’s additional riches and resources fall into perspective.  Paul is alluding to this in scripture;

3 God's grace has been given to me. So here is what I say to every one of you. Don't think of yourself more highly than you should. Be reasonable when you think about yourself. Keep in mind the amount of faith God has given you.  9 Love must be honest and true. Hate what is evil. Hold on to what is good.   Romans 12:3, 9 (NIRV)

So regardless of how you go to work or play tomorrow, don’t let the circumstances define who you are or more importantly, whose you are.

Blessings,

Tom Cooper                                                                                                                                                                   Volume 19 Issue 4

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