Me Mode
Dan Kunz
A couple of months ago, I had the opportunity to hear a comedian, Gavin Jerome, talk about faith. I know, that sounds disjointed, but after hearing him, what he had to say made a lot of sense. The primary job of Christians is to share Jesus with others. To do that you have to have some sort of relationship with them, even if it only started five minutes earlier. When it comes to relating to others, a sense of humor can be a huge benefit. Most people would rather be around someone with a sense of humor, than someone as sour as month-old milk! An optimistic, lighthearted viewpoint is appreciated by most. His point is well-taken.
My favorite example of Gavin’s humor came in a story about his visit to the Department of Motor Vehicles. (We’ve probably all experienced a “cranky” representative, whether it’s at the DMV, post office, or the airlines.) His suggestion was this - When the person asks your name, state it loud and clear. When he or she asks for your birthday, state the month and the day. When the person asks for the year, say, “Well, every year!” The comedian went on. “I’m sure they’ll see the humor in that and join you in a good laugh - or not!” You probably don’t want to irritate someone who’s cranky, but at least his story was funny.
This comedian had his serious moments, too. As he told his life story, it became obvious that in his early years, he didn’t care much for God, or God’s preferred way to live one’s life. As he put it, he was in “Me Mode”. He was successful, popular, and living the “party life” for which some entertainers are known. That all changed abruptly. He was in a car crash that should have cost him his life - but it didn’t. He walked away with a few bruises and that was all. Even the first police officer on the scene was amazed he was alive!
After a great deal of reflection, he realized his “nodding acquaintance” with God needed to change. God had saved his life and he knew it. In the blink of an eye, he went from Me Mode to He Mode. People in Me Mode usually aren’t even aware of how self-absorbed they’ve become. As long as life is good, they’re good. Gavin readily admits the “tunnel vision” on his career, his success, and his enjoyment. Now that he’s in He Mode, things are different. He’s still successful and still popular, but his life is devoted to Jesus, not himself. His humor is clean and his message points to his Savior. He is filled with thankfulness, not just for a life saved in a car crash, but for a life saved for eternity and he takes every opportunity to share that message with all he meets. II Corinthians 3:3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
If we are in Me Mode, even only occasionally, we need to flip to He Mode. Hopefully, it doesn’t take a horrific accident, a career in shambles, or the loss of a relationship, to clear our head and set us on the right path. A life lived for him who lived, died, and rose again, for us, is a life well-lived, indeed! Flip that switch to He Mode and enjoy the results!