“Be yourself; everyone else is taken.” –– Oscar Wilde
Inspiration comes from a multitude of places. We feel encouraged by a parent, a coach, a teacher, a pastor, a mentor, an uncle or aunt, or any number of other people who impact our lives in positive ways. I remember being impacted by the Rev. Ellsworth Kalas during seminary.
Dr. Kalas, at the time, was the Beeson Pastor in Residence whose primary job was mentoring pastors in the Beeson Doctor of Ministry Program at Asbury. He also preached often in chapel. On one of those occasions his sermons particularly got my attention. During chapel I took copious notes on his message and a few weeks later re-composed the sermon and preached it at Sonora United Methodist Church, where I was serving as a student pastor. It was a flop.
I learned a valuable lesson that day. “Be yourself.” I can’t do Ellsworth Kalas, but I can do Chris Howlett. God made me who I am and my preaching style is my style. I’m always learning from others and trying to grow as a communicator of the greatest story ever told, but I have to be true to who God made me to be.
Everyone of us has room for improvement, areas we can increase our level of maturity. We all need mentors, role models, and examples. But, we can’t be someone else. I can’t be my Dad, my professor, or my bishop, I get to be me. You can’t be someone you’re not. When you think about it, you don’t really want to be. Be who you are. You are unique. There’s no one else like you. Sure, God wants you to mature and grow into a fully devoted follower of Jesus, but he wants you to follow Jesus like no one else can because no one else is you.
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