Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter July 30, 2009

It is amazing, at least to me, the insight many of the Hippies of the 60's had, in retrospect.

Ashleigh Brilliant is a case in point. His offbeat humor permitted him to ride to at least a few moments of fame via vignettes on Post Cards. Note the following:

"All I ask of life is a constant and exaggerated sense of my own importance."

Many sophisticates understand this egocentric drive in human nature and manage, with much effort to cloak this drive in softer wrapping with such terms as "meaning" or "purpose for my life" and the ever present psychological, "aware my self worth."

Less sophisticated souls spend endless hours presenting the more sophisticated with hours of humor at the histrionics of the lesser one. Years ago, I made a serious mistake in the hiring of a man, who on the surface had the credentials to do an outstanding job. I found that credentials guarantee zilch when performance is the indicator of value to the effort. This poor soul stormed into my office and had a fit of over why another associate was placed in a corner office instead of his mother's favorite child. On the third visit during which he was adamant that his office was cold, I merely fired him, with sincere regrets that I had not done so much, much sooner.

Civilized society does NOT demand the crucifying of the ego, but rather the clothing of the ego in acceptable dress, and one of the non-negotiable garments is excellence of performance. Civilized cannibals demand that the more childish mannerisms of over inflated ego be covered by the ability to out perform other, less gifted folks act civilized. Case in point, a football player who can run the 40 in 3 seconds, can get by, with a surrogate who will do the math for him. He makes the touchdowns and some lesser human can count the points. Such is life.

Born again Christians who are supposed to be above this ego fray, are in too many cases serious offenders. While being officially Christo-Centric, the opposite or Self-Centered Bible thumper is fodder for the grist mills of the critics. Not too long ago I attended a meeting where the most wonderful leaders among us were holding forth. One such made the grand entrance and condescendingly shook hands. I pulled a few little non-ego flattering tricks on him and watched as he took immediate offense and wandered off to more knowledgeable worshipers. I figured if he was as wonderful as he assumed he would have recognized my superiority.

I wrote him a note and explained what I had done and why and just how those around responded. He never answered, but at another meeting he shook my hand and near whispered, "Thanks, Larry." Ain't God good.

I Peter 5:5 says in part: "be clothed with humility." Humble people are seldom aware of their own humility. Well, in that case ole Larry must get back to the drawing board.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2009 Use with credit.

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