Beautiful insignificance

"I need regular reminders of my call to faithfulness, not to success. How easily I forget what's important. I still have some major unlearning to do about identity, results, and ministry. I am not defined by what I do, but by who I am. Or, more importantly, to whom I belong."

This little quote from J.R. Briggs tidily expresses where I am in my ministry these days.  It encompasses a kind of identity shift away from the metrics of corporate success and into something that roots down towards the person and work of Christ in my own heart, and thereby into ministry.  I came across the quote in Paul Pastor's beautifully written article here: http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2013/october-online-only/among-successful-failures.html

I love fine art - painting - and try to visit the great galleries whenever I travel. So often it is not the really famous paintings that move me. (The Mona Lisa comes to mind.)  It's the little corner of a painting that suddenly captures a moment, a truth, a beauty. I am encouraged to set aside the allure of significance and profile that I see some of my pastor-friends reaching for.  I'm happy to do some little thing really really well.  Something that very few people would ever notice, but that God will enjoy.  It'll probably be regarded as a misguided ministry failure or more realistically not be noticed at all. But it'll be worship, and what is better than that?