Resurrection in
Everyday Life: “Hubris to Humiliation to Hope”
A
recent daily meditation offers a most poignant and promising reminder for jaded
disciples whose personal circumstances appear to eclipse God’s presence thereby
negating His unquestionable faithfulness.
A religious leader in a developing country had become immeasurably
distressed and dismayed. Following a
lengthy period of strenuous ministry efforts, he saw very little consequence or
significance. A visiting missionary from
a Mid-Western state noticed this man’s despondency and spoke these words of
encouragement and empowerment. “God can
change anything in three days.” Emboldened
by these words, that religious leader found resilience and persevered. That reference to the resurrection reminded
him of the divine power and resources available to him on any day.
At
a book signing forum, I heard a radio station marketing director’s personal
story of resurrection. She traversed in
the drama of her life three major acts with equal number of scenes. Her story begins with her immature and rather
prideful defiance towards her parents and family in her decision to forego
college. She refused to apply and
enroll. Instead, she resolved to pursue
a career combining acting and modeling. She
acquired an agent and dreamed of unimaginable success, unbridled stardom and
millions of dollars.
Initially,
she believed that her agent was a well-intentioned man who sought the best
opportunities for advancing her dreams and goals. She obtained a brief television spot. Sooner
than she anticipated, auditions dissipated and her ambitions flickered. A drought of prospects ensued and
lingered. To her considerable chagrin,
she found herself dancing in strip clubs.
While financially lucrative, this type of gig hardly catapults anyone to
fame and fortune within acting and modeling.
Yet, she still naively trusted her agent who harbored ulterior motives.
Suddenly,
he arranged a modeling assignment in the Caribbean. The job paid well yielding $2500 for
her. Upon her arrival, she realized that
this assignment lacked integrity. After
a meaningless photo shoot, she and the agent had dinner with an associate and
friend of his at an upscale restaurant.
At the end of the meal, the men had a “tongue in cheek” exchange that seriously
disturbed her. “No, she is not ready
yet.” She heard those words even though
she cannot remember the question that warranted that response. As she reflected on the conversation, she
finally realized that her “agent” intended to prostitute her. He had always planned to be her pimp. Somehow, she graciously escaped that
potentially dreadful possibility.
Upon
her return to New York City, circumstances worsened. She acquiesces to a photo shoot with a
questionable national adult magazine. Later,
she shares copies of the pictures with her mother. Her mother views the photos, hands them to
her and silently walks away. That
silence echoed rather loudly in her mind and heart. Hurled into the lowest experience of her life
by her initial pride and defiance, she travels to the South and spends time
with her grandmother to regroup. This time
of emotional, psychological and existential convalescence required that she
convince her grandmother that she had not been “knocked up,” an African
American saying for pregnancy.
Evidently, her grandmother was not agreeable to rearing anymore
children. Nonetheless, that period in
the wilderness resembled the prodigal son’s epiphany in the pig pen when he
came to his senses.
Eventually,
she waited tables upon her second return to New York City. One day, she served a man whom she
retrospectively characterizes as an angel.
She had not seen him before and she has not seen him since that
day. Spontaneously and somewhat inexplicably,
he said to her, “I want you to return to school.” He finished his meal, paid with an
appropriate tip and left. In an hour, he
returned to the restaurant with all the information that she needed to apply
and enroll in school. In due course, she
returned to college and graduated with her bachelor’s degree.
Moreover,
she experienced resurrection from her rejection by her parents and family. As she concluded her remarks, she summarized
her personal journey from hubris to humiliation to hope. In waiting tables, a job she previously
thought was beneath her talents and abilities, she received God’s amazing grace
therein acquiring enduring hope. She
quoted Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord;
plans to prosper you and not to harm and to give you hope and a future.” She encourages everyone to believe that God
has a plan for him or her. Her story of
her experience, strength and hope yielded an overwhelmingly positive response
from the audience.
