Seeing Stars

I was walking through a local business this week when I came across a radio station promotion. The two morning DJs from a top local radio station were doing a public appearance. I previously have worked on projects with one of the guys, who I knew to be a humble and generous guy. I decided to have a little fun with him. I approached him and said, “Hi, my self-esteem is dependent on local celebrities somehow acknowledging me, to give my life a sense of meaning. Would you mind just affirming me for a moment? My name’s Tom, by the way.”

My friend burst out laughing, and I joined in, but I noticed that his on-air partner was staring at me. Once he realized that I knew his partner, he relaxed a bit. But he said, “You wouldn’t believe how often we hear that. You’re just the first person who said it out loud.”

I was a bit taken aback, but not really. How often do we try to bask in someone else’s glory to boost our own sense of worth? We do it a lot at work. We think that if we can just get the big boss to notice us, maybe we’ll be eligible for a plum assignment, or he’ll think more highly of us when it comes time to review salaries. At the very least, maybe she’ll say, “I need to fire a dozen people today, but not Tom. I remember he threw himself in front a truck for me that day…”

We have the opportunity to reflect a much brighter glory in Jesus. He gives us a message of focus and compassion that is unmatched in the work world. And while it may not feel as big a boost to our fragile egos as having the district vice president call us by name during his semi-annual plant tour, it is infinitely more valuable.

Have you ever found yourself or a co-worker going out of your way to have some celebrity or authority acknowledge you? At what point did you realize what you were doing?