A Tale of Two Men

This week typifies my life. I am actually having a great week, but a lot is going on around me...and it has me thinking in a way selfishly about my own life. Last night on the news said it all to me. On the one hand, I saw footage of the people of Miami rejoicing when they thought that dictator Fidel Castro was dead. The people were throwing a party and rejoicing over his possible demise. On the other hand, I saw the story about the sudden death of sportscaster Paul Eells. I heard and read many of the comments and tributes people all over the state were giving to him. I saw his colleagues struggle on the air to get through a broadcast. I don't think that I have seen that much candor on live television since 911.

Two men. One a dictator. One a sportscaster. Two ways of life. One ruled with an iron fist. One touched everyone he met with love. I got to thinking that these two men, in a way, represent the daily struggle within my soul. There's a part of me that wants to never say a negative thing about another person like Paul Eells seemed to personify. I want to take the time out of my schedule to talk to anyone I meet and to make a clear difference in their life. I want speak with a quiet voice and be patient with those around me. I guess there's a part of me that wants desperately to be like Paul Eells because he represented Christ so well. However, at the end of the day, I fall terribly short. Instead, I am more like Castro. I want things my way, and when people don't oblige in helping to brick and mortor my perfect kingdom, I get angry, resentful, and impatient. I may not physically kill others, but, for a variety of reasons, I harbor ill feelings concerning them in my heart. Instead of reaching out to people, I tend to drive them away. I absolutely hate that about myself.

The good news is that I don't have to put on an act to live like Jesus, because HE lives inside of me. The thing I have to do is to DAILY KILL MYSELF so that Jesus can get out. The problem is this "DAILY" thing...oh, yeah...and the "KILL MYSELF" thing that gets in the way. But that is something I (we) must do as a follower of Christ. Jesus puts it this way to us in Matthew 16:24 (NLT) Then Jesus said to the disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me."
Let's begin DAILY to make a conscious effort to die to self so that He can live through us. If we do this, the world won't throw a party when you are gone, but it will be a richer place.