About a year ago I met up with a very good friend for a coffee. ‘How are you doing?’ he asks, genuinely interested in the answer. I ramble on for next 20 minutes – plans, uncertainties, worries, weariness. He looks at me. “Smile”, he says with a twinkle in his eye.
It was just what I needed. It pricked the bubble of my pompous self-absorption and restored my perspective.
Michael Ramsey, a past archbishop of Canterbury, told a group of new pastors to be serious about the gospel but not take themselves too seriously: ‘laugh at the absurdities of life, laugh about yourself, and about your own absurdity. We are all of us infinitesimally small and ludicrous creatures within God’s universe.” (quoted in Stott, The Radical Disciple)
Quite a few years ago I worked as a security guard for a huge all-night garden party. Unlike some of the security staff who had the exciting job of manning the gates or marching out uninvited or unruly guests, I had the particularly dull job of watching a wall in a quiet part of the grounds to make sure no-one attempted to come over it. Sadly no attempts were made. It got to 3 or 4am in the morning and I was desperately trying to stay awake. Eventually I stumbled, half-asleep over a stone and fell into a flower bed.
There in the flower bed, my suit covered in mud and bits of flower – that is what I am and no more. I am not only a sinner but an absurd, ridiculous sinner. I need friends to remind me of that next time I’m tempted to take myself too seriously.
Two other bits of wisdom I’ve been given over the years:
- Death to intensity (we want to be serious about the gospel but not to be over-intense in our dealings with people – we need to have a ‘light touch’).
- For one look within take ten looks at Him (it’s good to examine ourselves, and confess and journal but before we sink into despair we need to turn to Jesus our righteousness and spend much more time bathing in his grace).
I love this. It’s so funny! It’s a brilliant quality to be able to laugh at yourself. Thanks for a timely reminder!
Just received a helpful qualification from a friend: Death to intensity about ourselves and Death to an overbearing intensity in our discipling but Yes to intensity about Christ and the gospel. I was just reading Psalm 42:1-2 with the children this evening and the psalmist certainly has an aching intensity in his passion for the Lord. Paul has a driving, extreme passion for Christ. He is able to deal tenderly and warmly (and be tough when necessary) with people – all driven by a consuming, intense seeking to know Christ more and more. As my friend said – we certainly need more of that intensity.
I don’t know how I have come to this article, just few days ago and my Pastor encouraged me to be serious with the gospel and highly challenged me to stop taking myself too seriously.
:)