As my wife, Carlene, and I were walking, she told me of a health problem someone had. I responded by relating my health problem. She said, “It is not about YOU.” This reminded me of the story I heard about Joe DiMaggio and his son, Joe DiMaggio III, going to a NY Yankee game. They sat in the back to avoid attention and just enjoy the game. A fan saw him and yelled, “It’s Joe DiMaggio.” Others yelled “Joe DiMaggio!” Soon the whole stadium was chanting “Joe DiMaggio.” His son looked at him and said, “Wow! Dad, they all know ME.” I thought and realized that the world doesn’t revolve around ME. It is not about me, myself, and I. It seems this is now a “ME” generation of narcissism, egotism, egotists, and selfie-isms.
Narcissism: Inordinate fascination with oneself; excessive self-love; vanity; gratification derived from admiration of one’s own self. Egotism: Excessive use of personal pronouns; an exaggerated love of self. Examples: leaders who often say, “My deacons, my choir, my church, and my problems.” Egotist: One who often magnifies self. You have the right to remain silent, but you are unable to do so. They can testify, “I am proud that I am humble!” Selfie-ism: Example: Me using a “selfie” stick to take a “selfie” of Me to show Me to my thousands of multimedia friends. Others say, “I have enjoyed talking about YOU.” Well when you think only of yourself, at least, one person is happy. In AA people testify, “I am an alcoholic.” Some could testify, “I am an ego-oloic.” Elisa Morgan, president of MOPS (Mothers Of Preschoolers) stated The Toddler’s Creed: “If I want it, it’s mine. If I give it to you and change my mind later, it’s mine. If I can take it away from you, it’s mine. If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine. If it’s mine, it will never belong to anyone else, no matter what. If we are building something together, all the pieces are mine. If it looks just like mine, it is mine.” “It’s not about me but we.”
I often say, “The greatest testimony to the world is a changed and consistent Christian life.” Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship. Let us learn that when the world sees Christ in our lives, they will want what we have. The world does not care what we know, until they know that we care. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you…By this (love) shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34-35). John The Baptist, one of the greatest men (John 7:28) said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). My wife is right – “It’s not about me.”
