As a teenager, my local radio station had me convinced of an important show coming up on New Year’s Eve. It was a marathon show featuring the Top 100 hits of the year, starting with #100 and listening all the way up to #1. I was hooked! I can’t remember when that final song played, but there was no way I was going to fall asleep beforehand. Incredible songs like: ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ ‘Close to You’ ‘Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head’ ‘Let It Be’ and ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ captivated me musically and fueled my youthful idealism. Yeah, I’m a hopeless romantic. The singers and groups held hero status. I was convinced everyone knew their names (with the only embarrassing exception being my parents).
In every generation there are big names in domains like sports, science, music, arts, literature, philosophy, etc. They are both hailed and despised depending on a person’s viewpoint but they are far from unknown. People in places of power and influence and wealth are likewise hailed and despised much for the same reason.
It’s thrilling to know we don’t need a ‘name’ to be invited to share in God’s kingdom. Jesus told the disciples to come to him as little children. That’s so great, because we all are little children on the inside, regardless of how the world, family, and significant people have molded us on the exterior. For me, as one of the regularly unchosen kids for sports, it’s humorous to think how Jesus’ teaching of the last being first applies to me. Admittedly, I’m a train wreck on the basketball court, have been asked to leave a bowling alley for lobbing the ball a couple lanes over, interrupting a league there, can’t pitch or catch worth a hoot, and can’t see where that ball will connect with my bat (it never did). And yes, I’m Canadian, but don’t ask me about my skating skills. Still, Jesus loves me.
And even though Jesus made the folly of it clear over 2,000 years ago, the Western world still worships academia and academic pursuits and academicians. Degrees are seen as the ultimate treasure for success, and success is seen as the ultimate goal. Of course, history is littered with the tragic stories of those who’ve arrived at that much-longed-for pinnacle, only to be devastated by its meaninglessness. Thankfully, there is a God-given wisdom which continues to confound the worldly wise and cause rejoicing for the worldly simple who embrace the foolishness of preaching. PD