Resume of Fail

There's a growing trend online of documenting and mocking people's failures.  One word has been applied repeatedly to foibles, missteps, oversights, funny irony and blatant mistakes: FAIL.  A good bunch of the pictures, videos and stories are clean (if only a bit guilty) humor.  They can be simple, non-offensive snapshots of life and the reality that we mess up.  Whether it's the photo of the cyclist falling forward into a huge puddle or the SUV on the highway with the gas-station handle and hose still in the gas tank while driving down the street, life is full of fail and a lot of it is funny.

Funny thing about failure though; it's not our own failures that are the funniest.  The less-stuffy among us might laugh when someone's bike wheel falls off, chuckle at the story of the prom date whose roses provoke a violent allergic reaction.  Still, if I catch a frisbee in the nose or I slip on a gumball in front of my family, I'm usually not immediately in a laughing mood.  No, when it's our own mistake, we feel lame, awkward, or even just plain embarassing.  That's why this line from 2 Corinthians 12 is so amazing: "I will boast...gladly of my weaknesses." 

Seriously Paul, get real!  Boast?  Okay.  Gladly?  Maybe.  In WEAKNESSES!?  You're crazy.

If we're honest, we all balk at this idea of boasting in weakness.   Who likes to put their worst foot forward?  No one says:  Hey, nice to meet you, by the way, I'm really an inconsiderate person who only wants to talk about myself!  Want to have coffee?  or this: Hey, I really respect you!  Wanna hang out?  Just so you know, I have bad breath and I like to make weird noises while I listen to people talk.  Oh, and I randomly drool uncontrollably.  We just don't do it!  Whether on account of fear of rejection or embarassment, most people save the warts of their lives to be discovered later, by accident, if at all. 

Recently I've had the awkward experience of retooling my resume.  With a professional resume, it's totally appropriate to let people know of your core competencies, strengths and accomplishments.  "Brag a little" the resume experts will say.  In ministry though, there's an added component of awkwardness because the perception of pride just doesn't go very far with Christian leadership.  It would not be too cool, for instance (even if it was true) for someone to bill themselves as "Ranked #1 in our annual church humility poll" or "Personally responsible for vibrant dynamic spiritual growth and prayer for 35% of our congregation."  How weird that would be!?  In ministry, there is this odd balance of needing to share your competencies and strengths without being or becoming a self-promoter.  That's not easy.

So, the funny thing is that the Apostle Paul, still just a man, but a very godly man for sure (to say the least) - this Paul refused to commend himself to his detractors.  He said he would rather boast in his weaknesses. 

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  [10] For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.   -2 Cor. 12:9-10 (ESV) 

As we see, Paul's boasting in weakness was not out of some crazed desire to be thought-little-of, but from a desire to make much of Jesus Christ.  Paul's aim was not worldly pride, esteem of men or even self-confidence.  No, Paul's esteem was in Jesus.  Refusing the worldly allure of self-commendation and self-preservation, Paul boated in his weaknesses, because in his weakness, he is strong in God.  Wow.  Paul lived before God.

So, having recently been transitioned out of my position, you can't believe the temptations there are to commend myself to my potential next employers.  Indeed, if you read my resume, you will see a serious attempt to state my God-given strengths but in a way that is not self-promoting.  I love the Church.  I hate this process.

So, in an attempt to embrace the glory that God brings in making me strong (2 Cor. 12:10), I thought I'd post some of my weaknesses.  Here's my different resume, not of successes, but of some weaknesses.  When you read this, how can you help but agree with my release from my position?  On the other hand, when you read this, how can you help but believe that any ministry done through me is only result of the God of the Universe at work in little, flawed me.

My Resume of FAIL...
 

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Feel free to email me for more details or to obtain references on this Resume of Fail.  There's much more to share if you want to know my weaknesses.

Oh, thank you Jesus, I am so glad that my failures are not the end for me.  Thank you that you use all of us despite our shortcomings!

2 Cor. 12:10 (ESV) 
    For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.