Here’s a story to make you smile from my friend Scott Couchenour’s blog:
The story is told about a time when Michael Jordan scored 69 points. The Chicago Bulls’ lead was so big that in the final minute Coach Phil Jackson put in Stacey King—a seldom used rookie substitute. King scored two meaningless free throws. Some years later he was asked by a reporter, “What’s been the highlight of your career?” King glibly replied, “It would have to be the night Michael Jordan and I combined to score 71 points!”
It seems we all have a bit of Stacey King in us striving to appear to be a bit more than we are, right?
But what a contrast to the humility expressed here by A.W. Tozer:
“I suspect maybe 80% of what I deeply believe is actually true. I just don’t know which 20% to work on.”
They say it’s all about authenticity these days. It seems Tozer “got it” back in the 50′s. Imagine that level of honesty from a man who wrote more than forty books of which two are regarded as Christian classics: The Pursuit of God and The Knowledge of the Holy.
If Tozer understood his own blindness, where does that put you and me? Should we be listening more to each other and those who see the world different than we do?
Ed,
Good thoughts in the story. I think that there is a feeling that we all want to be recognized and remembered, but God’s idea if being great is perhaps humility and letting Christ’s spirit control our lives by ourselves being selfless. Listening to others is one way to become selfless. I love Tozer. I appreciate you too. Eldon
This was a good post Ed. Tozer always forces me to look honestly at myself and so often I’m faced with my ugly pride and self-centeredness. I always appreciate too how Tozer helps us also look at the Lord honestly and see that even with the rose colored glasses off, He’s actually better than we realized.
As for Stacey King, I think there is something there that is in all of us. I feel like in all this desire to have significance, there is a huge element of wanting to be the significant one that everybody remembers. It’s hard for us to imagine doing something and not being remembered for it…when my ultimate goal should be that God would be remembered for the great things He has done and hope that I don’t steal the glory in any way. Easy to say…Hard to do.
It makes me think of a prayer that Hansi (a woman who was a former Nazi youth member who became a Christian and powerful speaker) used to pray before a talk. “Lord, make me a nail upon the wall…fast and secure. And on that nail, in itself so insignificant, hang a beautiful picture of your face that others may see you” I always appreciated that prayer.
And Ed, I appreciate you too!
Eldon,
Thanks for jumping in and sharing. I appreciate your thoughts on selflessness and listening. Steven Covey in his book Seven Habits shared:
The psychological equivalent of oxygen…is to be understood.
I sense he he has something there. Feeling truly understood is so important. And that requires we listen to others. Love doesn’t seek it’s own.
rebekah – Hansi had some really sweet thoughts for sure. I heard her live 25 years ago. I can still feel her heart and her gentleness.
That Jordan story seems to resonate because its really about all of us. It’s something we all want to escape but its so very hard. That struggle in me prompted my post Monday.
Thanks for sharing here so often…