Self Esteem
Little things stick with you from what you have read. It was a few years ago that a friend loaned me Dick Keyes’ book, True Heroism in a World of Celebrity Counterfeits. Here is a strong theme I got from it.
Keyes quotes Jacques Ellul who said that our age is characterised by a “lust for recognition”. The point is made that we spend so much time concerned about how we look before others that we forget the real audience. “Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales” says Isaiah (40:15). If we’re concerned about how we are regarded by the people that matter then here is a ready reckoner. The aggregation of all fame, wealth and power in the world adds up to next to zip compared with God. Not only that, we are more visible to him than by men and cared for more deeply.
In view of this, if self-esteem is something we should seek, then it comes from knowing that we are loved by God and that we are secure in that love.
If we really thought like this then it would take a great burden from us in terms of maintaining our image and reputation before others. It would free us to naturally be what we’re cut out for. “Heroism is compatible with ‘ordinary life’ lived well” says Keyes. I’m sure that this means being human, men and women, acting responsibly with what we have been given towards God and man.