Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Reversal of Fortune

Last night, I donned the red windbreaker and parked cars for major donors to the new Sanford Children's Hospital here in Sioux Falls.

It got cold as the night went on. From our spot on the sidewalk, we could look in and see folks having wine and hors' d'oeuvres.

I had a strange feeling that I couldn't quite identify (other than frosty ears and wanting a glass of red). The light went on and I realized that I used to be the one standing inside, even the featured speaker at such events.

At my last church, we held a multimillion dollar campaign to build a sanctuary and other buildings. Luxurious gatherings in toney places were part of my job description.


In SoCal, my wife and I were well compensated and maintained a subscription to the Mark Taper Forum in L.A., even attending cast parties and forums with playwrights.

So last night it was odd to be outside looking in, one of the hired help instead of a host or honored donor.

This season of my life continues to be marked by amazing and challenging reversals like that. I realize how far I am from what I am called to be:

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Philippians 2:5-8

I'm a very strange man sometimes.

2 comments:

Perpetua said...

I think you have your priorities straight.

TLF+ said...

Thanks, Perpetua - I think the jury remains out on me. Really, I'm grappling with the whole "religious" enterprise these days. What I've experienced in TEC has me ready to join the "spiritual, but not religious" club, albeit no vaguely spiritual, but striving for the Way of Christ as revealed in Holy Scripture.

So, that particular priority seems right - but how that is playing out in my life is questionable. Seems like I have some Lenten prayer questions shaping up, huh?