Surpassing Worth

It’s such an important question. Without fail, it’s usually the one question that you ask a person you’ve just met. It can say a lot about someone. It can tell you what ethnicity and culture they embrace. It can tell you their history and worldview. It can tell you why they speak so funky. It can even tell you whether they prefer to wear socks or not. Where you’re from tells others so much about you, without you having to explain it all.

I’m from Chicago. What’s that say about me? Well, for one, it tells them what allegiance I hold in matters regarding sports (Cubs, Bulls, Bears, & Illini). What else? It tells them I know how to eat (hot dogs, deep dish, sausages, etc). It also tells them I know how to deal with year-to-year highway construction.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my short time here in Boston, it’s that absolutely no one is from Boston. It’s true. If you live here, it’s highly likely that you were born and raised somewhere else. It’s just the nature of the city. No one stays long enough to see the next Bruins Stanley Cup. And even if they do, no one cares. Boston is a city full of migrants. Here for a season and gone the next. But that’s what makes this city so interesting. Everyone brings a different flavor to this lego bucket of culture.

Much like the very world we live in, Christians aren’t permanent residents, either. We’re from a different city. We’re just passing right on through. But the question always to ask ourselves is, “Do people confirm where we’re from by witnessing our lives?” Can you tell someone you’re a Christian and will they say, “Oh, you love others more than yourself, don’t you!?” “I bet you love to be unselfish with your time and talents!” “What’d you think about that Bible? Surely, you’ve read it!?” Sadly, sometimes no one is able to tell we’re Christians, unless we tell them. And sometimes, even when we tell them, they don’t believe us.

Where you from?

Ok. I know it’s pretty dorky of me to continually blog on American Idol…but I just gotta share this tidbit. This season, I’ve been pretty into what’s been happening week in and week out. And I’ve made it pretty clear to those I know who my favorite is: Jason Castro. Now, I admit, he has a slim chance of winning, due to his narrow fan niche, but I think he’s gonna be a success way after Idol (I’m starting to sound like a crazed fan, but it’s all good).

The purpose of this post? Well, you can imagine that after reading Joshua Harris’ recent blogs on American Idol, I was elated to read this little portion on his latest post about the Shout to the Lord performance on last week’s Idol Give Back special:

Jason Castro’s Church
A girl named Leslie attends the church that Jason is from. She writes,

Jason Castro and his family attend my church in Rockwall, Texas. He is a Christian and has asked for prayer because one of the other contestants is either an atheist or agnostic. I was told that Jason Castro encouraged a few of the others to sing “Shout to the Lord” after they at first balked at the lyrics. Just FYI: Jason’s mother gave him the idea to get dreadlocks, and he now uses his look as a way to be able to witness to teens that normally wouldn’t listen. Way to go, Jason!

Now all the more, I want him to win it! If you haven’t had a chance… go check out Jason’s rendition of Hallelujah. As a result of that performance, iTunes saw the largest increase ever in sales of one song as a result of an Idol contestant.

Be sure to check out tomorrow’s Idol…rumor has it that it’s Mariah Carey’s week.

Now I will shamefully go hide in a corner now that I’ve just scared half of you with how much I’m into Idol.

I came across this blog entry yesterday and was sucked into reading the whole thing. It’s about a homeless man that lived out of his car for years and in his passing, left behind several lasting impressions, even though he practically never talked to anyone.

The short version -

Jack lived out of his old school blue maverick for nearly 20 years. That old car didn’t move an inch in any of those years. It occupied a spot at the Schuck’s Auto Supply and stood as an icon for many Seattle residents that would pass by it on the way to work or when running an errand at the local Fred Meyer. He never made much of a scene, always sipping coffee in the corner of the Jack-in-the-Box or cleaning up and shaving in the grocery store bathrooms, he spent most of his days inside his car.

In those 20 years, many people found a connection with Jack. Though most of them never spoke a word to him, for some reason, there was a comfort about him. They always knew where they could find him & he’d never disappoint. But one night, a grocery store employee found him collapsed in the parking lot and immediately he was taken to the hospital. He passed away at the age of 58 from heart complications. Many curious “regulars” noticed his absence and were asking questions and soon news had spread that Jack was gone. Following the news, there began to amass a pile of flowers, thank you cards, and notes remembering Jack’s life taped to the car, so it won’t fly away. Local residents say they’ll miss him, even though they never spoke a word to him.

All this got me thinking…

What makes this man such an influence? I mean, he didn’t even speak a word to most of these people. He had the same routine everyday, spent every night in his car, yet dozens of people were effected by his “quiet” life. For me, there stood out three unique things about Jack that made him such a high impact person:

1. He was content – Many people offered Jack their homes to stay in, blankets to sleep with, and food every night. Yet Jack would kindly turn them away, saying he had everything he needed. Call it foolishness or pride, but I think it was simply because he was content with what he had. He knew he had everything he needed in this world. No addition of “things” was going to make him happier. In a world where bigger is better and more is not enough, Jack’s lifestyle caught people’s attention.

2. He was consistent – Many people found comfort in him and looked forward to seeing his blue maverick in the parking lot, because they knew that he was always going to be there. Day or night, you knew if you were going to the Fred Meyer, you would see Jack. There was a consistency about his life that people saw. They knew his routine and it was inviting. In a culture where we’re so erratic and “too busy”, Jack was consistent and always available. People would sit with him as he had his morning coffee and read his newspaper at the corner table at the Jack-in-the-Box every morning. They stopped to chat on their way to get auto supplies. Jack was there and always willing to talk.

3. He had character – Jack was himself. There was no one like him, nor did he try to imitate anyone else. Who else lives inside their 1970 Maverick in the middle of a public parking lot (and enjoys it!)?!? People were attracted to him, because of this. The world craves originality. They crave uniqueness. And when they find it in a person, they flock to them.

Isn’t this what we all aim to be as a Christian? Someone that can influence people so much, sometimes without even speaking a word? Someone who’s life does all the preaching? Someone that is “missed” when they’re not there? I’m pretty sure Jack wasn’t a Christian, and that’s a tragedy in itself. But I think there’s something we can all take away from this man’s silent lifestyle.

I pray I learn a little from a man I never knew, but only read about. I pray that, I too, one day can effect people simply by the way I live.