I love our
bulletin board in the hallway leading into the church – you know, the one where
we post newspaper clippings featuring parish members. The other day I was looking at it and learned
we have at least two budding artists in our congregation. Caroline Webb is pictured with some of the
work she created this summer at a camp at the Cultural Arts Center and Margaret
Laney Cross is pictured with her painting of James and the Giant Peach, which
won best in show award at the North Suffolk Library. Congratulations to both of you. We are very proud of you.
I spent some
time reflecting on my early experiences of receiving public recognition. Every week in Sunday School we were sent home
with a bible memory verse. If we could
recite it the next Sunday we got a star next to our name on a chart of the
class’ students. That was a kind of
recognition. The Akron Metro Parks had
another. They gave children hiking
sticks and for every trail you walked a park ranger gave you a little sticker
to put on your staff. I remember being very
proud of the numerous stickers I collected and displayed on my hiking stick.
Beyond being
something that makes us feel good, recognition is a fundamental human
need. Abraham Maslow famously created
his hierarchy of needs. At a most basic
level he says we need food, water, shelter, and warmth. At the next level we need safety, stability,
and freedom from fear. After this we
need a sense of belonging and love – family, friends, and perhaps a
spouse. After these basic levels are met,
Maslow says we strive for self-esteem, for a knowledge that our life
matters. This includes mastery, achievement,
respect, and recognition. Mother Teresa, who saw a lot of poverty in her life, once said there is more hunger
for love and appreciation in this world than there is for bread.
Think about
this for moment. Once our most basic
needs are met, there is something in our human nature craving to be connected
with others (the drive to belong) and needs to know we are making a valuable
contribute in life (the drive to matter and make a difference). How powerful is this drive? Research indicates 43% of employees who quit
a job cite lack of recognition as a factor.
Dale Carnegie observed people work for money but go the extra mile for recognition, praise, and
rewards.
All of this
brings us to this morning’s reading from the Gospel of Mark. James and John – brothers – come to Jesus
with an audacious request. When Jesus
presides in glory they want to sit at his right and left side. Matthew tells the story a little differently. He has the boys’ mother making the
request. Luke’s version is even more different
for he has all the disciples arguing about who deserves this honor.
It is understandable
why this is on their minds as the group walks to Jerusalem. Even though Jesus has told them three times
he will be killed there, they seem to believe he will lead a messianic
uprising, expel the Romans, and reestablish the throne of David. Given this belief, the disciples essentially
are vying for cabinet positions in Jesus’ new administration. Imagine how crushed they must be not only
when their friend is killed but when their vision of glory dies on the cross.
Now you or
I, if we were in Jesus’ position, might be offended by the disciple’s blatant
request for status. We might respond,
“Who do you think you are?” But Jesus
sees through their inappropriate appeal and perceives something very human in
it. The brothers are asking for
recognition. They want to know they
matter to Jesus and have contributed something important to his ministry. So Jesus does a remarkable thing. He does not put down James and John, rather
he teaches them about what “greatness” looks like in his kingdom. It is not about sitting in a position of
great power and prestige, as they suppose.
It is about being a servant to all.
It is about giving and giving and giving yourself to others.
Abraham
Lincoln famously advised not to worry when you are not recognized, just
continue to strive to be worthy of recognition.
I think Jesus would applaud this.
Treat other people the right way.
Look for ways to be helpful. Use
often phrases like “Thank you”, “That is a job well done”, and “You add so much
to make this a special place.” Do more
than you are asked or expected to do and do it with a smile on your face and a
laugh in your heart. Do this and you
will find others recognize and appreciate who you are and what you do.
