Will the Real Robert Redford Stand Up
"Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, "I am not the Christ [Messiah]."1
"There's a story about a woman finding herself alone in an elevator with the famous and very handsome Robert Redford. As the elevator moved up the floors, the woman, like many of us might, found herself uncontrollably staring at the movie star. Finally, in her excitement and nervousness, she blurted out: 'Are you the real Robert Redford?' To which Redford responded, 'Only when I'm alone.'"
"That story reveals that Robert Redford is not simply another pretty face, but he has grown into a wisdom that must serve him well. For like John the Baptist, he obviously knows who he is not."2
In my limited experience the closer I have come to some well-known leaders the more disillusioned I have become.
Perhaps one of the best measures of a genuine leader is how he treats us "little" people; that is, how does he treat people who are not a business prospect, a potential donor for his non-profit program, or a person whose name he can drop to impress others.
Yes, it's good to know who we are but, like John the Baptist, it is better to know who we are not. This principle also applies to people who constantly put themselves down!
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please help me to be realistic about myself knowing both my strengths and my weaknesses—and who I am and who I am not. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
1. John 1:19-20 (NIV).
2. Rev. Mary Lynn Tobin, Sermon: "Finding Our Voice." http://dccpres.org/sermons/961215.htm
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