What I don’t want this year…

I don’t want to overshadow God, steal His glory and think about myself more than I ought to. In his book “It’s not about me”, Max Lucado tells the story of a young guide in the art museum who’s job was to simply lead people to the paintings, answer their questions and step out of the way. Initially he succeded. He walked the clients to the framed treasures, identified the artists and stepped out of the view. Simple job. Delighteful job. He took great pride in his work. Too much pride one might say. For in a short time, he forgot his role.

He begun thinking that people had come to see him. Rather than step away from the work of art, he lingered near it. As people oohed and aahed, he smiled. “Glad you like it”, he replied, chest lifting, face blushing. Visitors disregarded his comments. But they couldn’t dismiss his movements.

Little by little the guide inched toward the painting to the point where his body blocked the entire piece. People could see him but not the art. The very work he was sent to reveal he begun to conceal.

Can you imagine what would happen in our lives, churches and communities if we would step out of the way and allow God to be seen? May we see our place and understand our role as people who point to God and then step out of the way.