Recognized

“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.” – Acts 4:31b

Comic-Con comes to our town in mid-September and we are already starting to get our geek on. Which panelists are we willing to wait in line to see?  Which artist’s booth do we most want to be sure to stop by?  And, most importantly, what will we wear? Of course, you can wear everyday clothes to Comic-Con.  But sometimes we join other cosplayers, as we are called, on taking on the identity of a favorite character, just for the day. 

A few years ago, my son dressed as the character Link from the videogame The Legend of Zelda. He slid on a pointy green hat, strapped boots over his leggings and picked up his blue and red cardboard shield.  We took the train to the convention center.  As the train slowed to maneuver a crowded city block, a fellow nerd spotted my son through the window.  At the next stop, the guy jumped on the train, cried “Link! I love Link!” and then jumped off again as the door closed and the train pulled away.  Everyone on the train grinned at that, no one more broadly than my son. He had been recognized!

No one on the train has ever recognized me as a Christian.  At least, no one has ever jumped on a train, yelled “Jesus! I love Jesus!” and then jumped off again.  In truth, if this happened, I’d probably be more alarmed than charmed.  For a weekend, it’s fun to take on another persona, but being a Christian every single day is a whole other story – all that loving everyone and feeding the hungry and turning the other cheek can wear a person out.   And yet, I do believe that I am called to live with boldness, such boldness that even on a train, even when I’m not in costume, I am easily recognizable.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, fill me so with your boldness that every action and word proclaims your name.  Amen.

About the Author
Jennifer Brownell is an ordained UCC minister and the author of Swim, Ride, Run, Breathe: How I Lost a Triathlon and Caught My Breath, her inspiring memoir.