Were you there?

            The crowd roars in anticipation.  Hands reach out to touch.  Every eye is trained on the spotlight.  Tomorrow the question will be, “Were you there?”  Anyone in attendance will feel that swell of pride that comes from a brush with the rich and famous.

            I had a very tiny taste of fame once.  I was the guest speaker at a Stonecroft Ministries luncheon.  As we were waiting for the food to be served, introductions were made by our table hostess.  The woman next to me was surprised and impressed to be sitting next to the speaker.  I was surprised that she was impressed.  After all, it was just me.

            I wonder how many of us look for significance via association.  Our culture idolizes the famous.  Most of us will never achieve fame.  We live our lives within relatively small spheres of influence, though some gain visibility within civic organizations or careers or church.  We sometimes lose sight of the most important association of all:  relationship with Jesus.

            It’s easier to see Jesus in people we love and admire.  It’s harder to see Jesus in those who are different or poor or needy.  In fact, we often want the spotlight, imagining ourselves co-stars to the Son.  Instead of reflecting His glory back to Him by loving unconditionally and selflessly, we want the misplaced adoration of the crowd. 

Someday Jesus will ask each one of us, “Were you there when I needed you?”  And then we will remember some seemingly insignificant moments when we had the opportunity to show love and care for another human being and, perhaps, share our hope in Christ.    Jesus shows up in the most unlikely people and situations.  While our eyes are trained on the famous, he is ministering behind the scenes to each person in this earthly crowd.  He beckons us to share his love with the least of these.  That is where we will find Him.