We’ll never see the glory of God if we look only to our own brand.
Greek mythology may not be a guide to the Christian life, but I appreciate the clever commentary the ancient stories offer. I was recently reminded of Narcissus, the young man who neglected all other loves and physical needs so he could stare endlessly at his own reflection. In the most common version of the story, Narcissus eventually dies while sitting by the reflection pool—the tragic and ironic conclusion to his selfish love.
The old, dark comedy still applies—maybe especially applies—to our modern ego and pride. If we want to cultivate humility these days, we have more than just pools and mirrors to contend with.
We are God’s image bearers. Yet aided by our phones and social media, many of us spend more time with our reflections than even Narcissus did, certainly more than people have at any other time in civilization. The overwhelming majority of American adults now own smartphones. And with billions of mobile devices in circulation around the world, the situation is the same in many other countries. We are a selfie society, encouraged to view and post about ourselves often, in hopes of attracting more likes and boosting our “brand.”
We forget Narcissus’ peril. But we also forget the grace that is spoken through his story: After Narcissus dies, he is turned into a flower.
Late last summer, I played a concert at a rustic flower farm in Washington State, when the dahlias were in full bloom. Rows and rows of spectacular pompoms swayed like velvet fireworks bursting from their sturdy green stems. With guitar, piano, and drums, we sang at sunset under a white canopy tent, the community and the musicians coming together to lift our voices over the flowers. We shared a palpable awareness …