Well, I don't think so anyway!

Sometimes it seems like an assault course, (Just complete the course without coming to grief); other times it's an obstacle race, (Beat the others whatever comes along). But whatever your view, there are obstacles on the path and you have to handle them somehow.

Here's one obstacle that you might well encounter later in life. You are recognised for what you are, not for what you used to be. And that's a surprisingly tough one too!

Do you see that elderly, balding, slightly stooping man sitting in Church? He needs quite a bit of help now to get about; he is frail and prone to forgetfulness. You just take him as you see him, not knowing that in earlier years he was a dynamic senior executive in a multinational company, a keen sportsman and a graciously effective Church leader. Or do you see that grey-haired, bent over lady, struggling with her stick? Hard to realise that she managed her home with 5 children, offered hospitality to countless visitors, and still had time to teach in the Sunday School and go out to lead meetings in other churches.

The fact is, they and many others no longer have a reputation for active and effective service in the world or the church. You only know them as you see them now and find it hard to comprehend what once they were.

Graciously letting go of such a reputation is far from easy. Something inside each of us wants to shout out 'But I used to be...' Learning to let go of 'Self in the past' is just one more step on the pathway to becoming more like Jesus. Remember the Bible says that Jesus made Himself of no reputation and became a servant. Of His own free will He relinquished His divine status - 'God as He used to be' in order to live as a man and then, unrecognised by most around Him, bring about our salvation.

John Rowland