The Undercover Boss and The Oscars

Among the TV offerings tonight were two programs which highlighted individuals on extreme opposite ends of life's spectrum.  

The Undercover Boss followed the CEO of 7-11 as he worked incognito at various positions within the company.  Working alongside employees making deliveries, cleaning the stores and waiting on customers, he saw firsthand the challenges of the labor and the people working largely in low-pay, completely unglamorous positions.  And he was amazed by the quality of the people, completely apart from their work performance, who worked for the company.


The Oscars, by contrast, portrayed Hollywood glamour at its best.  While the awards are clearly a primary focus, the red carpet runs a close second in importance.  The public and the media crowd into their places hours in advance, hoping for a chance to glimpse beautiful and famous people in beautiful clothing made by famous designers.  


In comparing the first series of lifestyles to the second, the correct "Christian" answer is obvious.  Clearly, it is more righteous to do your honest labor well, no matter how mundane, rather than to live the shallow, albeit glamorous, life of a Hollywood actor.  Any kindergarten student in Sunday school could come up with that answer.


Why then, deep inside, do we so often secretly want the glamorous life?  Whether on a Hollywood scale or not, we very frequently crave the attention and admiration of those around us.  Despite all of our claims to the opposite, we want to be pulled out of the crowd and noticed.


During this season of Lent, let us be reminded that there is only one voice of approval with eternal value.  The voice of the one who loved us before we were born, continues to love us now despite our many flaws, and will love us for all time.

Psalm 139

¹ O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.


 ² You know when I sit and when I rise;
       you perceive my thoughts from afar.

 ³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
       you are familiar with all my ways.

 ⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
       you know it completely, O LORD.

 ⁵ You hem me in—behind and before;
       you have laid your hand upon me.

 ⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
       too lofty for me to attain.

 ⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
       Where can I flee from your presence?

 ⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
       if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

 ⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
       if I settle on the far side of the sea,

 ¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
       your right hand will hold me fast.

 ¹¹ If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
       and the light become night around me,"

 ¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
       the night will shine like the day,
       for darkness is as light to you.