Resurrection in Everyday Life: "Hubris to Humiliation to Hope":

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.