This Is Your Life...

“A man who is eating or lying with his wife or preparing to go to sleep in humility, thankfulness, and temperance, is, by Chrisitian standards, in an infinitely higher state than one who is listening to Bach or reading Plato in a state of pride.”
-Clive Staples Lewis

With the SuperBowl just around the corner, we are gearing up for what has become the largest game in American sports every year. Each year, this star-studded event is filled with some of the greatest athletes in the world, the most popular celebrities, and captivating commercials. It’s become a trademark of American culture—a sports holiday, if you will. As we move toward “SuperBowl Sunday”, it’s safe to say the media will be hawking over the athletes, digging into both their personal and professional lives. Through the media and the coverage of this game, we grow to learn who these players are, at least on a shallow level. The athletes are put on a platform of fame, while many become household names and heroes for young kids.

I believe we live in a culture that promotes fame and fortune more than anything else. In fact, I know this to be true. So many of us want to become famous—to be known by other people. To me, that’s such a funny and interesting concept. The desire to be known for our accomplishments is something we have all desired at one time or another. It’s a product of our personal pride.

Today, I want to challenge all of us to take C.S. Lewis’ quote to heart. In a point in time where the economy is putting much added stress on careers, retirements, marriages, etc…it seems like such a great time for humility, doesn’t it? There is so much in our lives, everyday, telling us that fame and money is the ultimate goal. But I have a notion that we could do a better job of being the heroes to the people within our own families by giving up our pride and laying our life down for those we care about the most. I am convinced that our society needs more men and women that are content with being famous in their spouse’s and children’s eyes. I’m thoroughly persuaded that true happiness comes in playing the role that God has designed for our lives, and in laying down our personal pride to see what God might have us do when we take our blinders off.

So, when you watch the SuperBowl this next weekend, think about how you can be a hero to those closest to you. How can you better serve your family and friends over this next week? I’d suggest doing something nice for someone else without telling anyone about it—that’ll test your pride. It might not make the New York Times, but it might change someone’s life.

C’mon, become “famous.”