An Audience of One
by Rollie J.
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Brilliant sunshine poured generously over the landscape. Its warmth and positive cheer were a welcome relief from the many afternoons of heavy grey, moody clouds, and frequent hailstorms. The sunshine brought cobalt blue skies that met with precision, intersecting the jagged knife edges of the surrounding mountains. Nearby lakes reflected the mood of the sky and offered back deep aqua-marine emeralds that sparkled at the caressing of the wind.
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My eldest daughter, Karina, and I were attempting a 100-mile hike along and near the Continental Divide in western Wyoming’s Wind River Mountain Range. Most of our route was taking us above timberline, cross-country and off-trail. We were weaving our way with map and compass through the fascinating high alpine world not seen by most. Crossing steep snowfields, chaotic and unstable boulder fields, intense 11,000’ passes, wide open tundra and dozens of icy stream crossings had tested our mettle and resolve.
Our journey had also blessed us with beauty, grandeur, and a sense of awe beyond compare. With each new step, magnificent vistas and picturesque panoramas opened before us. We were privileged to be passing through the mysterious terrain where earth meets sky. We felt honored to be walking through this holy and sacred ground. I could not help myself… I gave thanks and gratitude for where I was, and what I was experiencing continually throughout each day.
Along our journey, we were frequently blessed by pleasing fields of wildflowers of all shapes and colors. On a mountain journey, it is so easy to pay attention to and marvel at the big picture, the magnificent panoramas, the majestic mountains, the scenic lakes and vistas, and neglect or forget about the smaller miracles that lay at our feet continually. The macro was so easy to appreciate, but Karina has an eye and appreciation for the micro, the delicate touches, and the subtle blessings that lay before us. She would often pause to kneel and take a photo of these delicate yet hearty wild flowers.
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Our favorite shown here in the photo is the beautiful Indian Paint Brush flower. Its red flames dotted the landscape adding brilliant color to an often dull and gray landscape. Throughout our journey I thought frequently about these vivid wild flowers. It would be my guess, that along the route we chose, most likely less than a handful of human visitors would ever pass by these flowers in a summer season.
These beautiful flowers awake each morning of their short lives and display their beauty to the world. They radiate beauty in the sunshine, in the rain, through the hail storms, and raging wind. By simply being who they are, they bless the world, and they do so regardless of whom, if anyone is watching. They live out and enrich the world and most days do so to an audience of one; their Creator. These same flowers are still up there at 10,000’ praising and worshiping and most likely there is no one there to pay attention, to affirm them or give them an “Atta boy.” They live for an audience of One.
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How about you? Can you “Be who you are, who God created you to be” for the world? Do you praise and worship when no one is watching, when it’s not organized for you? Can you sing praise and/or give thanks when it’s not Sunday? Do you shine what God gave you back to and into the world? Can you be the best you can be when no one is looking? Can you shine without accolades or collecting “likes” on Facebook? Can you just “be” for those who cross your path today? Can you and I live more for an audience of One?
So many of us suffer from insecurities by comparing or competing with others. This can be with our talents, gifts and abilities, our possessions, our positions and titles, our accomplishments, our looks or finances. This usually ends poorly for our self-esteem. When we compare or compete, we will often come up short, and feel poorly about ourselves in the process. Been there done that, way too many times! It’s a poor way to live.
God only asks you to be you. He wants you to flourish, shine and radiate Himself through you. You can’t do that if you’re trying to outshine someone else or be more like someone else. You were only created to be you. Maybe today, you and I can focus on pleasing only one person, the one that really counts. God.
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-- Rollie J.
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Until we can honestly say; “I am who God says I am and that’s all that matters.” Our lives will be restless indeed.
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6: 1-4
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men.
Colossians 3:23
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:5-8
“When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everyone will respect you.”
Lao Tzu
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