Are You Who You Say You Are?

“Tomorrow is the most important thing in life,
Comes into us at midnight very clean.
It’s perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands.
It hopes we’ve learned something from yesterday.”

Such powerful words have touched thousands of people over the last few years – since June 11, 1979 in fact. They are inscribed on the grave marker of “John Wayne”, the ultimate actor and hero of Hollywood. The big cowboy and hero of his movies says one more thing in these final words.

Wikipedia states…
“John Wayne (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979) was an Academy Award-winning American film actor. He epitomized ruggedly individualistic masculinity, and has become an enduring American icon. He is famous for his distinctive voice, walk and enormous physical presence. He was also known for his conservative political views and his support in the 1950s for anti-communist positions.

In 1999, the American Film Institute named Wayne thirteenth among the Greatest Male Stars of All Time. A Harris Poll released in 2007 placed Wayne third among America's favorite film stars, the only deceased star on the list and the only one who has appeared on the poll every year.”

But John wasn’t always who he said he was. He began as “Marion Robert Morrison” It was during his early days as a film actor that the studio changed his name. But it wasn’t his first name change. His father changed his name after his brother was born – to “Marion Michael Morrison” because he decided to call his brother “Robert Morrison”. He actually appeared first on the scene as a football player at the University of California as “Marion”.

Talk about an identity crisis. When he woke up any morning – who was he? He could be anyone of his characters that he had played. The favorite one I believe was, “The Duke” – from one of his movie sets.

I pause here…
John Wayne isn’t much different from most of us. Our identities change big time over the years. We begin one way and are transformed in the day we begin – today to something else. Sometimes we have to be people that we are not or don’t want to be. Sometimes we do not care. Sometimes people change our names even when we don’t want it to change.

Last evening I met with a friend in a coffee shop. As I was going out the door my wife looked at me and asked, “Are you going dressed like that?” referring to my ‘garage clothes’ covered in wood chips and dust. My reply was “Yes… he already knows what I am and who I am – my clothes won’t make any difference at all.” And they didn’t – because I was meeting a friend.

Now – however – if a man called and told me that he was considering presenting me with a large sum of money and he wanted to meet with me…and that there might be a few reporters at the scene… I might not go with my “garage clothes” on when I met with him.

On Sunday, as a Minister, I am expected to ‘dress up’ on Sunday. A minister serving communion in his “garage clothes” may cause the offerings to drop. A minister showing up at a wedding or a funeral with “garage clothes” on may well cause the audience to wonder what is wrong with this guy?

We all are people that have different names and different personas.

Recently at another funeral that I attended, a fellow came up to me and asked, “Who are you? I think that I should know you – but you will have to tell me how I know you.”

I stared at him for a minute and then said carefully, “I don’t think we have ever met.”

His reply was adamant. “No we have met before!”

I listened to him rehearse the possibilities. But I have never bee to any of his world before.

Then I told him that some people say that I remind them of “Tim the Tool Man” from TV. Or sometimes people think that I look like the “Old Harrison Ford”. No that wasn’t it – He knew me…and I couldn’t remember.

Okay – it did liven up the Funeral Luncheon a little… for him and me.

The important part for John Wayne was knowing himself and what he was that day. The grave marker’s words were good for me too.

I personalize it this way…

“Tomorrow is the most important thing in ‘my’ life,
Comes into ‘my’ midnight very clean.
It’s perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in ‘my’ hands.
It hopes I’ve learned something from yesterday.”

Then someone asks… “Who will you be with Tomorrow?”

My reply is “I want to be “me” that is doing the best possible with whatever I am required to do that day.”

~ Pastor Murray Lincoln ~

Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wayne