Christian Living

---

Larry Lilly's Letter Wednesday October 17, 2007

The other day former Vice President Al Gore was awarded part of the Nobel Peace Prize. A great honor, but many wonder just what he has contributed to the cause of world peace. Being rather ignorant of such exalted prizes, I pass on this part of the article and simply say, "Congratulations; I guess."

That we humans thrive on awards and trinkets is and has been well known for most of recorded history. Napoleon is said to have remarked, "You rule men with trinkets." He flooded his army with trinkets to pin on their chest, lapel, and hang on the walls of their offices and homes. It was not so long ago that on any given Sunday you visit the local church and see men and a few women dragging a long list of attendance pins up the stairs to the sanctuary. I actually met a man who was wearing pins that denoted each of his 75 years of attending Sunday School. The more I learned about this valiant warrior the more certain I was the pins were about all he would have to lay at the savior's feet. A life lived well is of more value than mere trinkets.

On occasion I comment on the very large percent of clergypersons sporting degrees. To be certain some men of God certainly deserve the honor which honorary degrees bestow upon them. Others, well they write nasty letters to yours truly insisting that I should mind my own business. I usually answer that I am minding my business as I have a tough time being real rather than "faking it till I make it." When I comment about the basic deception involved when some Village Ninnie brags about his "earned" D.D. it humors me to read of his taking this as an insult. By doing this he demonstrates that he really is smarter than I thought, for I was positive he would miss the intent.

Mark Twain remarked on this subject when he wrote:

"It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them."

On occasion we used to have an "Awards Day" at our church. I always approached this gala event with trepidation as I have suffered greatly at the hands and vitriolic tongues of some who felt that because they breathe they, by all measures of human relations must receive all of the awards. Even if they are a father, they want to be "Mother of The Year" as awards should be given on the basis of what a person would be, instead of what they are. Often awards are given on the basis of influence or fear of retaliation rather than on the basis of pure performance.

The desire, the reaching for pure performance is not bad, but we who name Christ should cease and desist the practice of pretending, for when we pretend, we will never achieve the real.

Louisa May Alcott wrote: "Far away in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead."

Well said, Louisa well said.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2007 Use with credit.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE