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Thursday, March 1, 2001

Luke 9:22-25
Jesus says, "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?"

When I was a senior at Valparaiso University (1970-71) I was given the honor of writing the notes for our yearbook, the Beacon. Mostly that consisted of writing poetry and prose to accompany some great photographs of life at Valpo. We duplicated a poster, picture of an Elizabethan ukelele player with the title, "I discovered the real me at Valpo U." And I wrote,
"The true Me
my goodness
there are so many me's in each of us..."

Today, as I read verse 25 I remember that poster. Thirty years later I am still sorting out the me's in me. You too? I have been gaining on the world, and then losing ground, and then gaining again for these many years. A little more money, little more life insurance, little better golf game, a little more recognition, children growing up, more intimacy with Margaret, on and on...But...now then, what about my "very self?"

I know I have gained ground there too, and lost it, and gained again. Paul describes life as a race to be run to the finish. At the end the prize I claim is the "real Me." Whatever I've decided to claim for myself, that's what I've got. For better or worse, that's what I've got, that's who I am.

Jesus is such a good mentor. He shows me that claiming "nothing" makes it so much easier for God to claim me. He wants me to make good choices, and he gives me some idea about what those good choices look like. I appreciate that!

Jesus, thank you for teaching me and showing me how to live. Protect me from my own cheap vows to follow you and push me toward really doing it. Amen.



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