I'm not cool: Pride goes before the fall

Have you ever felt like God has told you "you're not cool." Now let me qualify some terms, here: I know God thinks I'm awesome, and He thinks you're awesome, too. He's our maker and creator, who has crafted us perfectly. He's our biggest fan. But sometimes we think far too highly of ourselves in areas that are largely unimportant, and far less of ourselves in ways that really matter. Let me explain:

My first job in Washington DC was working for a law firm. I came to DC to go to law school for international law. See, I have this drive, something deep within me, to make an impact, to be part of something meaningful, to make history and leave a legacy. My long time dream was to come to DC, and be part of the action. A few weeks into the job, I was sent to the US Supreme Court to run an errand. I. had to... Supreme Court. I was ecstatic. And then it hit me: I'm cool. Here I am, in DC, arguably the most powerful and influential city in the world, and my job takes me to the Supreme Court. I'm cool.

So I go the court, run my errand. On the way out I think, "I have successfully completed this very important task... at the Supreme Court." Again: I'm Cool.

I should also point out that another point of self-affirmation for me is clothes. I love them. I love dressing up, putting together cute outfits, accessorizing, and being creative. So, when it came to my spiffy law firm job, I took the opportunity to express myself in black and white. I was wearing these hip-fitting WIDE leg pants with leetle stiletto heels. I'm pretty sure I was mid thought - thinking how cool I am - when the heel on my right foot caught the cuff of my left pant leg. Down down down the Supreme Court steps I went. Papers flying, I hear a, "Miss! Are you okay?!", from a very nice man who kindly helped me up and gather my things. Totally unharmed but very embarrassed, it hits me: I'm not cool.

In a very gentle way God was like, "Maegan, I have taken you, and I will continue to take you to some pretty amazing places. But those places aren't as amazing as what I'm doing in your heart. They're amazing because I've crafted the hearts of men who have made these places great. And I steer the nations. You are cool because I've made you cool. But you're not cool because you have a cool job, or get to do cool things. You're cool because I'm cool, and you were made in my image. You're cool because I have extended so much grace to you that when your little personality shines for my glory, I'm famous."

I've found my significance in my job, my gifts, my accomplishments, my looks, my passions - even the good dreams the Lord Himself has put in my heart. But it's not those things that make me worthy of respect and value. If those were the measure of worth, I would constantly be comparing myself to my neighbor, and fighting the battle of either pride or insignificance. So here's to living life full of the creator, liberated from the fear of performance, good opinion, or success, to focus on the one who imparts value, and to finding Him EVERYWHERE.