Celebrity Look-a-Like?

About a week or so ago it seemed to be all the rage to update your Facebook profile picture with a picture of a celebrity that you look like. I have to say that I watched in amusement as friends changed their pictures. I was also amazed to see just how closely some actually favored the celebrity. Some of them were scary close. It was all in fun, and no dig against the folks that participated, but the thought of it made me a little sad and slightly introspective. Introspection is a good thing, right?

Things have gotten killer busy for me lately and way more so than I want them to be. It has been a new place every day and long hours with folks I am just beginning to get to know. But during those long rides and long days one has time to concentrate on hearing. The thoughts that have been rattling around have been fairly simple, but difficult to achieve and do so consistently.

We see, rather consistently, the morally bankrupt nature displayed in the lives of celebrities. So many examples. Far to many to list. Too much fame, too much money, over exposed, living up to others expectations, too many things, but yet the hole in the heart still exists. Fame seems to be a cancer. Why would I want to appear to be…….. ?

When I look in the mirror, I do not see anyone but me. My face, my eyes, the gray hairs creeping in on my chin, my small ears, my curly hair, the scar over my eye where I smashed my head into a Magnavox television, and my own inadequacies, fears, insecurities, and the glasses that will some day become bi-focal lenses. I do not look like any celebrity. However, we have been fearfully and wonderfully made by a Creator God who loves each of us deeply, even when we choose to not give Him the time of day.

John, a disciple of Jesus, wrote in his gospel…

³⁰He must become greater; I must become less. (John 3:30, NIV)

There is a tremendous challenge in this rather simple statement. (Why is it always more difficult to achieve the seemingly simple things?)

I have found the celebrity that I desire to look like. I mean after all we are, by design, created in His own image.

^26-28 God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature… (Genesis 1:26-28, The Message)

Rather than reflecting on myself and searching for my celebrity look alike I would rather pursue Christ and strive to look more like Him each day. I look like myself and you look like yourself, but Christ created each of us in His own image and at the same time to reflect His nature. Looking exactly like Him is tough, but loving, sharing, caring, serving, building up, and pouring into others is certainly part of His nature that we can strive to grab onto.

Reflecting on His nature manifested in me…