The Me Monster Within

Do you ever find yourself consumed by the “Me Monster” within?

Children can teach us so much, don’t you agree. It has less to do with how they behave and act in certain situations than why they do so. In the end, their lack of inhibition or discretion gives way to allowing them to be honest – sometimes brutally – and allowing us all to watch, process, and gauge our own lives.

My oldest daughter just turned 5 years old. This has been a long awaited birthday for a number of reasons – not the least of which is that 5-year-olds get to go to school. I confess that over the past few months, we’ve used and sometimes abused this false marker to our advantage. For example, if our daughter begs us to do something we are not sure she’s ready for (or that we’re ready for!), we simply say, “well, when you’re 5 years old, you can do that.” Or, in a negative light, when she misbehaves, we have been known to play the guilt card and say, “now, that’s not the way a 5-year-old acts,” knowing all the while, her goal of being five is the very penultimate of her brief lifespan!

At any rate, as the date approached for her 5th birthday, her anticipation and, consequently, her selfishness, began to build. After all, hadn’t we been telling her for such a long time that this was going to be a marker in her life and that it would provide some detail of privilege? With these thoughts and many others packed in her efficient little mind, our daughter began to exhibit signs of what comedian Brian Reegan refers to as “The Me Monster.”

For at least two weeks, she insisted that her given name be changed to “Your Highness” or “Princess so-and-so.” And did we ever oblige! After that, it was about food and her amazing shift in what she did or did not like. Its like one day, she loved red grapes and the next they were as refuse to her refined palate…and so, we bought green ones. Then, it was not good enough for her eat what the grown-ups were having for the evening meal, but that only a specialized diet of chicken nuggets and french fries would suffice an almost 5-year-old.

And then with the presents! In those two weeks before her birthday, she would ask anyone who came to the door, with doe-like eyes, “did you bring me a present?” The mailman had to stop bringing packages to the door because of the guilt he had each time he deposited a delivery without my daughter’s name on in! I would come home from work and, inevitably, she would greet me at the garage door with her repetitive plea, “any presents for me?” It got so ridiculous, to the point when one of us would simply come out of the bathroom and she would ask again for a present, as though we’d been on a long shopping escapade at Toys-R-Us!

And then came the party. The weather had been fairly inclement up to that Saturday morning, and, being at our house, we had to adjust and move the activities inside. We worked hard at entertaining her friends with games and activities, before such a time as we would open gifts and eat cake. However, about 20 minutes in, our daughter decided all preliminary activities were beneath her dignity, and she withdrew and waited for present time while her friends played.

Needless to include, we did open her presents finally…some were acknowledged, some ignored, and then everyone went home. It was about four hours later that she woke up from a nap and asked us yet again, “do I have anymore presents?” With the party over and the 5 year milestone achieved, my wife and I had to step in and explain that her time in the spotlight was over and that it was not going to be about her anymore – there were others in the house and that life was going to have to return to normal. In short, the ‘Me Monster” had taken a hold of her very being and she was going to have to readjust to the concept of other people and their needs. As a side note, her best friend was not able to come to her party that day. One Saturday night, she said her prayers and asked God that her friend bring her present to church the next day. I told her after the prayer that she might want to think about saying something different to God and asking for less selfish things, to which she said, “Okay daddy.”

Wouldn’t you know it, the very next day, her present arrived as requested!

How are you at dealing with the “Me Monster” within? Do you find yourself content to not getting exactly what you desire in a circumstance, or do you constantly fight, tooth and nail, to get your way – despite the needs of others. Years ago, Burger King came up with the motto: Your Way, Right Away, At Burger King Now. It was a genius advertising pitch with elevated the position on the individual customer over anyone in the company, and if things were not exactly the way expected, a simple complaint would fix every ill. Dies this describe your spiritual life and at church? If the song you want sung or the event you think needs to happen doesn’t get done, are you apt to measure your own wants against the community, or do you naturally default to your own desires and tastes? As we deal with the second Urban Legend in our spiritual lives this week (MeChurch), be aware of the “Me Monster” within and be aware of the question, “is it really about me?”

As you worship this week:

Meditate – on how God has blessed you over the past 4 months and how you’ve responded to His provision for your life.

Contemplate – on your current level of contentment, specifically within your church body.

Seek – the ability to melt your personal agendas into the collective direction of the church.

Find – joy and gratitude for what you do have, not in that which you don’t.

Resounding Themes:

Being Filled to Overflowing
Ever-dying Will, Never-dying Gratitude
Kingdom Lenses, Kingdom Service

Getting READY to Worship

Ready, Set, READ

Luke 6:38
Mark 8:34
1 Corinthians 6:20
1 Corinthians 12:12-30

Ready, Set, MEDITATE

- What theme do you see through all of these passages? Is it so easy to “die to self” and to understand that “we are not our own?” Why or why not? In short, what is at stake when it comes to matters of will? What is the appropriate response of a Jesus-follower?

- At what point do you find yourself most defensive or selfish in your church? Why do you think that is? Do you have a Burger King mentality about your spiritual development (your way, right way)? Is there a place for dissention or a confrontation on specific matters? If so, when? Are there times/cases that it is inappropriate or ineffectual? Why?

- How can one combat selfishness or the “me-ism” that plagues our society? Are you a grateful, humble person? Do you find it hard to receive a gift? Are you gracious or reflective when given something? Does your attitude toward God’s grace reflect in every area of your life? If not, why not?

Ready, Set, PRAY

Generous Father, we worship You and You alone. There is truly none like You, both for now and forevermore! For what single thing do we have that was not a direct gift from You?

And in all things, teach us gratitude and generosity, that we too might be generous and grateful to others and to You. Father, may our wills and personal preferences dissipate as dew in the morning sun, so that we can better understand community and a sense of belonging. And Lord, may Your Church be the evidence of our love for one another and Your undying love for Your people. Would we think different, act different, and be different because of our contact with the Savior.

Jesus, for all that You’ve done, we say ‘Thank You.” And would You continue to do it in our lives, as we strive to work together, as small parts of a great whole. It is in Jesus’ name we offer this prayer.

AMEN.

Ready, Set, WORSHIP!