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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
Are You The Real Thing?
June 26, 2007
You have ten minutes and the clock is ticking. What would you say if you
were given the opportunity to tell the world who you are, and why what
you believe in is important for everyone to know? That is essentially the
challenge that was presented to the nineteen candidates vying for the title
of Miss Connecticut this past weekend. Each of the young ladies had to
appear before a panel of judges and make their case for why they should
be the next person to represent our state at the Miss America Pageant next
winter.
When we think of Miss America, we often think of beauty and swimsuits.
We think of the glamour and glitz of the evening wear competition. We
may even get excited about the talent that these young women share on
stage. Yet, the most important component, and most heavily weighted
aspect of the competition is the personal interview. We don't think of it
because it is conducted behind closed doors. None-the-less, it forms the
foundation on which everything else is judged during the competition.
For the last six years I have had the pleasure of helping out at the Miss
Connecticut Pageant. The first two years I got to chauffeur the girls back
and forth from their accommodations to the rehearsals at the Garde Arts
Theater. I learned that these girls are as nice in person as they appear on
stage. They are intelligent, talented and motivated to succeed. Their beauty
is not just skin deep. They have the complete package.
The last four years I have been charged with providing transportation for
the judges. Meeting and working with them is a totally different
experience. In between stops they often talk about former contestants who
have won pageants at one level or another and then taken that opportunity
and parlayed it into something marvelous.
A few years ago one of the judges told me that the girls that succeed are
the ones whose talents and beauty reflect their true inner nature. There is
nothing fake about them. Whether they are speaking one on one or smiling
their way across the stage in song or dance, these ladies are who they say
they are. When I heard him say that it struck me that the same is true for
us people of God.
In seminary I read a book by Dr. Gene Bartlett entitled, "The Authentic
Pastor." The premise of the book was that we are called to serve because
of our unique gifts for ministry and that we should never try to be
someone we are not. In God's great wisdom, he has made a place for us
and called us to serve where we can most effectively use our talents to
meet the needs of his people. So we don't have to try to be Billy Graham
or Mother Theresa or Harold Kushner. We can simply be ourselves and let
God's light shine through us.
You and I may never be famous or be selected to serve in a position like
Miss America, but if we are true to God and ourselves, we will both be
blessed and be a blessing to the world around us. So don't be afraid to let
the world know who you are. Just be yourself and let your faith shine
through.
God Bless! See you in church. Cal.
June 26, 2007
You have ten minutes and the clock is ticking. What would you say if you
were given the opportunity to tell the world who you are, and why what
you believe in is important for everyone to know? That is essentially the
challenge that was presented to the nineteen candidates vying for the title
of Miss Connecticut this past weekend. Each of the young ladies had to
appear before a panel of judges and make their case for why they should
be the next person to represent our state at the Miss America Pageant next
winter.
When we think of Miss America, we often think of beauty and swimsuits.
We think of the glamour and glitz of the evening wear competition. We
may even get excited about the talent that these young women share on
stage. Yet, the most important component, and most heavily weighted
aspect of the competition is the personal interview. We don't think of it
because it is conducted behind closed doors. None-the-less, it forms the
foundation on which everything else is judged during the competition.
For the last six years I have had the pleasure of helping out at the Miss
Connecticut Pageant. The first two years I got to chauffeur the girls back
and forth from their accommodations to the rehearsals at the Garde Arts
Theater. I learned that these girls are as nice in person as they appear on
stage. They are intelligent, talented and motivated to succeed. Their beauty
is not just skin deep. They have the complete package.
The last four years I have been charged with providing transportation for
the judges. Meeting and working with them is a totally different
experience. In between stops they often talk about former contestants who
have won pageants at one level or another and then taken that opportunity
and parlayed it into something marvelous.
A few years ago one of the judges told me that the girls that succeed are
the ones whose talents and beauty reflect their true inner nature. There is
nothing fake about them. Whether they are speaking one on one or smiling
their way across the stage in song or dance, these ladies are who they say
they are. When I heard him say that it struck me that the same is true for
us people of God.
In seminary I read a book by Dr. Gene Bartlett entitled, "The Authentic
Pastor." The premise of the book was that we are called to serve because
of our unique gifts for ministry and that we should never try to be
someone we are not. In God's great wisdom, he has made a place for us
and called us to serve where we can most effectively use our talents to
meet the needs of his people. So we don't have to try to be Billy Graham
or Mother Theresa or Harold Kushner. We can simply be ourselves and let
God's light shine through us.
You and I may never be famous or be selected to serve in a position like
Miss America, but if we are true to God and ourselves, we will both be
blessed and be a blessing to the world around us. So don't be afraid to let
the world know who you are. Just be yourself and let your faith shine
through.
God Bless! See you in church. Cal.
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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