Day 17: You Are Only a Man

As the story goes, in times of antiquity, when a Roman conqueror returned home victorious, he was paraded through the streets on his chariot in a glorious procession. This was called a triumph… Fitting.

The conqueror got to bask in the glory of his victory, feel the adoration of the people, and almost certainly, felt like a god in many ways.

But as a check on this tendency towards a delusion of self-importance, supposedly, a slave stood on the back of the chariot with the conquering victor whispering in his ear:

Memento te mortalem…

Sic transit gloria mundi…

Momento mori…

These words were an important message of humility and realism for the triumphant hero:

Remember that you are a mortal…

Thus passes the glory of the world…

Remember that you will die…

I don’t bring this up because I’m thinking of death, but because I’m hearing a little voice reminding me that I’m mortal. I’ve been so caught up in the rush, excitement, and challenge of this 30 Days project, that I’ve felt unstoppable.

I’m not.

I’m just a man. The glory of this world, like the parade for the hero, passes and fades.

As I’ve been writing I’ve spent a lot of time wondering what I will leave behind when my time in this world is over.

Recognition in your career, money, awards, promotions, acclaim, applause? All temporary — won’t last, won’t satisfy.

Your wife, your kids, your family, your friends… People around you. People dying to be shown a little bit of kindness in their lives. People searching for answers. These people matter. People matter. We can die, but that doesn’t mean that it’s all over after that.

My core, what defines me, although I don’t show it in my actions nearly as much as I should, as often as I should, is my belief that Jesus lived, and died to save me and anyone who puts their trust in and believes in him. He died an awful death on a cross — crucified to save the world.

Putting my faith in Jesus has changed my life completely. This is the most important thing that I know.

If you’re just figuring this out from me, it’s because I’ve been more concerned about what you think about ME, than about YOU.

So why all the Jesus stuff? Remember Penn and Teller? The magic guys? Penn Jillette said it best:

If you’re still reading, I care about you. I wouldn’t be writing any of this stuff down otherwise. I’m not making any money off of it, and based on the stats that this site shows me, not that many people are reading it.

But some of you are. And if it was just one of you are still reading here on Day 17, even though you may not agree with a thing that I say about Jesus or anything else that I put on here, then it’s worth it for me. There’s a reason that you’re still reading. I won’t pretend to know, but I hope at the very least you‘re wondering about your life and whether or not you have the answers that you think you have.

Know this: I am only a man, I don’t have all the answers, but I have the one that matters.

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Quote of the Day

There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations — these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit — immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously — no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption.

~C.S. Lewis

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Links to Past Episodes/Resources:

Introduction Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9 Day 10

Day 11 Day 12 Day 13 Day 14 Day 15 Day 16

Manfield’s Book of Manly Men: An Utterly Invigorating Guide to Being Your Most Masculine Self

If you have any feedback, please send me a message or leave it on my Facebook page: Thirty Days. This is a new project and I’d love to hear your thoughts. It is a tremendous encouragement to know that someone is reading this. Encouragement, comments AND criticism are welcome.