It was pride

I received a note from an old friend today. He reminisced about how I helped changed his life. I was appreciative of his kind words, but found myself abnegating his claim that I had anything to do with it. I truly did not think that I had done much at all, other than being a friend.

I pondered on how to respond to his email. What could I say that would help him see that his life change was, I believe, a divine action. Although, I'm sure his intention was pure. He was just trying to communicate that he remembered that I cared for him. Yet, I wanted him to know that some of my past was stained by obsessive ministry tactics that I regret and am ashamed of. How could I explain to him that the purest and simplest result of our time was the relationship. And that the leader-follower-to-accomplish-a-mission concept was rooted in pride and arrogance. How could I tell him that it was not supposed to be about me, but about Jesus.

I decided that he was not prepared for a "teaching moment."