My Resident Poser

Last night I spoke @ Nexus (actually, we had Nexus at 3:00 yesterday, so people could attend before Superbowl parties) and I borrowed heavily from Brennan Manning's book, Posers, Fakers and Wannabes and his discussion of The Poser. Here's a quote from the book: “Posers are frantic for approval. We have an almost suffocating need to please, which makes it difficult to say no, even when no is the right answer. Posers are habitually overcommitted to people, projects and causes, and we’re habitually unhappy about that because our involvement has less to do with personal commitment than with the fear of not living up to expectations. The sick thing is we usually get what we wanted because who doesn’t like a person who always says yes? That’s a question The Poser hopes will never get a straight answer.” I was overwhelmed in my own preperation as I considered my own life and how powerful the voice of the poser is -- always drawing attention to my own self-image -- about how I "come off" and how other people see me. I think the challenge is even greater when often my life is on display so publicly. I want people to think that I have it all together, that I'm a "spiritual" guy, that I'm a great pastor, father, husband, and poet (not sure where that came from, but it felt good to type). It takes a great deal of discpline and effort in my life to root my identity as being "God's beloved," rather than in my identity as pastor, speaker, leader, guy with poofy hair, etc.