(So, I’m just a sporadic, non-committed blogger. In fact, I blog like I drink coffee…every once in a while. That’s good when we’re talking coffee, but not so good in this context. However, I am aiming for consistency. Inconsistently.)
This morning, there were ten minutes of the CFC conference opening program before my turn to speak. Since I’m in the middle of a novel about a little boy who sees God’s kingdom because he takes the time to meditate on God’s character, I decided to spend my ten minutes wisely. Sitting in the pew, I had this awesome prayer going…all about God’s sovereignty and total control, with elegant tangents about rest, trust, and faith. I was just about to move onto the righteousness of God, when I heard my name.
“…Karen Kovaka…was there, too…”
Devin, a teammate, was telling a story, of which I was a part.
In that split second, my entire focus was diverted from God’s name to my own name.
Dale Carnegie, in How to Win Friends and Influence People, says that the sweetest sound in the world to any given person is the sound of his or her own name. This is awfully close to the truth for me! When I hear my name, I look up, eager to know who is talking to, or about, me. Basically anything about me is interesting…to me, that is.
In the words of John the Baptist, however, “He must become greater. I must become less.” As interested as I am in my name, and in stories about me, I am called to be more interested in meditating on God’s many, precious names. It’s about being enthralled by stories about him. Rather, it’s about understanding that every story actually is about him…not about me.
Wouldn’t it be great to be so concerned with who God is that “I” is no longer a distraction to myself? My name wouldn’t tear me away from what is truly important.
He most become greater. I must become less.
5 comments:
Great post, Karen!
Something I also must certainly work on.
Karen,
Thank you for such an excellent and thought-provoking post. I deeply appreciate the depth and solidity of your writing. I love reading it and it always encourages me.
I am very glad you are back to blogging - and yes, I know I'm months behind in figuring that out. :) When you took a hiatus last year, I had only recently discovered your blog and was sad that you were just then "leaving"! I became so busy over the spring, however, that my excursions to the blogosphere grew quite sporadic. Thus I remained oblivious to your comeback until my mother found your blog for herself. ;-)
Amen to that!!!
But can I live it? That is the real question. Can I live where it is all about God and not about me?
Karen, stop posting such thought provoking posts! : )
I hope that CFC is going well.
Soli Deo Gloria Forever!!!
Zach Ivins
great post! Out of curiosity...was the book "Blessed Child" by Ted Dekker and Bill Bright?
great post!
Post a Comment