Not all About Me

In an old Cathy comic strip, Cathy is talking to her friend Charlene. Charlene says, “Irving’s been trying so hard, Cathy. You’re not even giving him a chance?” “Too late, Charlene. This… day, I’m re-committing to ME! taking Care of ME! Pursuing the needs and interests of ME! I’m finally liberating Me to be Me!” Charlene asks, “What’s wrong with him?” And Cathy replies, “Him? He’s too self-absorbed!”

I love the irony. How easy is it to lose sight of our own self-absorption? It’s not that we don’t need to take care of ourselves – physically, spiritually, and emotionally. We do. But it also helps to remember that it is not all about us, all the time.

The Apostle Paul once wrote to the church in Philippi, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

Today I pray for you a balance. May you take care of yourself in such a way that you are healthy enough to reach out and care for others. May you set good boundaries, and in doing so, find that you have the energy, resources and state of mind to look out for the interest of those around you.

Our prayer today was written by William Temple. Let us pray: Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated unto you; and then use us, we pray, as you will, but always to your glory and to the welfare of your people, through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.