SHOW & TELL
Show and Tell is an activity that attaches narratives to inanimate objects or things that cannot speak, like our pets. The narratives are as real as the experience and perception of those who talk about them.
One who recently went through months of mistreatment and the mental ordeal would speak of the ordinary bread as a token of Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life that sustained her daily through a time that could only be described as a ‘sandstorm’. Jesus was literally the Light that saw her through each day till the storm suddenly stopped and changed course!
To another, a cup of coffee is not just about the robust aroma and flavor of good espresso, but it has the potential to create conversations, bring out stories in people, deliver a dose of comfort, and deepen connections. Coffee is decidedly a pick-me-up for all relationships!
Similarly, a handphone symbolizes reconnection with someone we have lost touch with, a soft toy becomes a reminder of an old friend, and a gold cross pendant is cherished for a story of God’s faithfulness that spans over twelve years from the time of her salvation to her baptism.
If our lives are held out for ‘Show and Tell’ by others, will the Christ in us become the narrative? Or will it be something else?
“Don’t tell me about your god with your words. Show me about your god with your actions.”
William Shakespeare wrote this famous verse, “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” This aptly illustrates that our lives are constantly under the gaze of the people around us. Sociologist, Erving Goffman, put it this way: “life itself is a dramatically enacted thing”. Plainly speaking, we often play to the gallery to impress others and influence their perception of us instead of helping them see the authenticity of our relationship with God.
The Scottish evangelist, Duncan Campbell, counterpointed: “What the world needs to see is the wonder and beauty of God-possessed personalities; men and women with the life of God pulsating within, who practice the presence of God and subsequently make it easy for others to believe in God.”
Indeed, every believer must know that God is in the business of Show and Tell for it is said in Matthew 5:14-16, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. We cannot live vicariously through others – our spouses, our children, our families, our communities. Our spiritual biography needs to be personal and continually updated and shared with others – over coffee, over a feast of the pungent durian, or a home-cooked meal with friends. Our stories are not about being immune to human adversities and troubles, but about our living hope in Christ that comes through for us again and again. We may not be the most eloquent speakers, or the life of the party, or the most prominent person in the room. But the more our lives are shared, the more it increases in value and effectiveness. Inertia leaves our lives bland and dull like salt that has no flavor and light that has no power (Matthew 5:13-16).
It’s important to understand that we need to share our lives with others as much as we need other people to be there for us. God did not give us salvation to perpetuate self-care and self-help. The apostle Paul modelled for us a healthy sense of interdependence by commending those who reached out to him in his time of need: I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. (Philippians 4:10,13-14)
We need to be careful not to perpetuate a false sense of self-reliance because of the fear of appearing helpless and needy. We need to beware of the masquerade of always appearing put together, stoically emotionless, using Christian jargons to impress instead of plain words to create better connections, even with close friends.
For better or for worse, God has set us up to be subjects of the world’s ‘Show and Tell’. This is the hard truth: faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead and faith without deeds is useless (James 2:18, 20).
Let our faith in God and our love for Him sync up with our true life stories. Our rhetoric needs to line up with our lived realities because our actions will always speak louder than our most convincing words!
