The Big Question

Several years ago, a colleague of mine mentioned a sermon he had given called, “What’s a Guy Like Me Doing in a Place Like This?” As he explained how he had used the title and illustration, it really resonated with me, and he gave me the freedom to use it. So, I decided to write my own version. The title and big idea is his, so I would like to thank Ike Cowell for the idea! I have given some version of this message each time I have been introduced to a new congregation. I've used this as a "getting to know you" message. It's a really good question, and it's a catchy phrase you can revisit several times as you continue with the sermon. I found, it also helps explain how I might have ended up at a particular place in time. I have reflected on this title and the retelling of it for the past several years, and I think this is a defining question that is helpful for all of us.

I've had several moments in my life where it would have been wise to ask, "What's a guy like me doing in a place like this?" I've been in many a car with a friend or worse the friend of a friend where I have no control where we are going or how I am going to make it back. Sometimes, it was somebody I barely knew, and I was along for the ride just because I was there. Often I was just going with the flow, living in the moment, which in hindsight, I'm not really good at. Most of the trouble I've ever been in has been "in the moment", and to this day, I'm not all that good at making decisions in the moment. When my kids were younger, they knew if you catch me in the moment, I'm not always prepared, and the answer was always "yes".  

When we find ourselves in any situation, it might be wise to ask, “What’s a person like me doing in a place like this?” It’s a “retrace my steps” question, the "how did I get here?" question. When you get to the age I am, you reflect, assess, and do an inventory of your life steps, or as Donald Miller would call them "life turns". This is one of those things that is helpful no matter what life stage we find ourselves in. I've started doing this yearly on my birthday. 

"What's a guy (or girl) like me doing in a place like this?" is a a formation question. What are the events, who are the people and the places that shaped who I am? What are the "value systems"  that birthed who we are and who we are becoming? When we show up, the only road map we get are the people in front of us. We take on thoughts, patterns, behaviors, and biases from our family and friends. As a person of faith, I think this is intentional in the way we have been created, for better or worse. All of us have a relational inventory of life experiences, some positive and others negative, that have been instrumental in becoming who we are. 

So, how did you get here, at this place in time? Who are the people that influenced you? What value systems formed you? What thoughts, patterns, behaviors, and biases helped make you who you are today? Have you had to unlearn any of those patterns, and are you still finding there's more unlearning to do?