Yesterday we heard…
…Prince George started at Eton College. This elite private school taught his father – and twenty British prime ministers… Fees are around £65,000 p.a… I’m not part of that way of life.
…Monty Don is no longer presenting Gardner’s World… singer Sir Tom Jones is stepping back from judging on The Voice… Famous people who are good at what they do, show me what I’m not…
I’ve just read…
…John Herschel made the first photograph on a glass plate, on this day, 9th September, in 1839, He was a remarkable mathematician, philosopher, botanist, astronomer, chemist, inventor… I’m not an academic like John Herschel.
Social media can emphasise our inadequacies, tell us we’re not good enough, not smart enough, not successful enough. It’s easy to think less of ourselves by focusing on what we’re not…
Good Christian friends contrast this with what we are as Christians… a child of God… a new creation… a forgiven and re-instated prodigal son…
Older friends tell me ‘I’m not the man I used to be…’, ‘I can’t — like I used to.’
Twenty-six-year-old Tyler Sewell-Nicholas writes about working with older people in September’s ‘Premier Christianity:
‘We live in a culture that often sidelines older people… spoken about as if they are past their best… Yet… I see how false that narrative is. Older people are not a burden to be managed or a problem to be solved. They are full of wisdom, humour, history and spiritual depth; image bearers of God.’
I read Amos telling king Amaziah: ‘I’m not a professional prophet, and was never trained to be one. I’m just a shepherd and I take care of sycamore-fig trees. But the Lord called me away from my flock and told me, ‘Go and prophesy to my people in Israel…’
Recognising what I’m not is not always a bad thing… I’m not royalty, clever or famous… but I shouldn’t think less of myself… Proud of who I am, I can, like Amos, be given an unexpected God-given purpose.
Thanks for being you, Malcolm. Purpose. Calling. Vocation. Under-used words that mean as much today as ever. I pray your readers recognize their God-given purpose, relying on the Lord’s strength to fulfill what they’re called to do.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I think, Grant, that for many years I was taken with Christian theory and theology, on being Bible-believing and Bible-based. I haven’t lost that, but I’m much more likely these days to say ‘so what?’
LikeLiked by 2 people
As the days roll by, each brings me closer to the end. Thus, I’m much more likely to say, ‘Oh wow!’ I find myself filled with inexpressible joy and gratefulness, and that sense of peace keeps growing. Thus, my comments. My best to you in the days ahead!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love Tyler! Are Monty and Sir Tom just retiring?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Monty’s retiring. It seems that Sir Tom is being sidelined…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Enjoy them both! Although I haven’t watched Sir Tom on the Voice. My mom had a big crush on him back in the day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
He can certainly still sing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for this post Malcolm. It reminds me of a John Newton quote that describes my position in life …
“I am not what I ought to be
I am not what I want to be
I am not what I hope to be
But still, I am not what I used to be
And by the grace of God, I am what I am”
Keep Looking Up ^ … His Best is Yet to Come!
LikeLiked by 3 people
It’s a good quote, Fred. Thanks for reminding me!
LikeLike
Amen, Malcolm. Simple jobs are the best, when we do them for Jesus.
Adam’s job as a gardener didn’t last long, when he forgot that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Pete. For me it’s about being consistently faithful – whatever we are doing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Knowing what we are not can be so freeing to truly find our God-given purpose. Nice one, Malcolm!
LikeLiked by 1 person
For me, Wynne, accepting what I’m not – even what it might be what I’d like to be – gives freedom and release.
LikeLike