The following meditation was written by Grace Cameron Hood, Director of Children and Family Ministry at First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach
“Now we see a reflection in a mirror; then we will see face-to-face. Now I know partially, but then I will know completely in the same way that I have been completely known. Now faith, hope, and love remain—these three things—and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:9
Many films and books in process of being produced do not have a final title. Until the film/book is done and the content is really completed, a title might change. Titles usually reflect the contents, but might not be understood by the audience. An example would be Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, or as our English friends would call it, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. I would imagine that the name was changed because American children would not know what a philosopher was and would find that title too boring. 1984 by George Orwell started as The Last Man in Europe. Margaret Mitchell tried out a number of names before settling on Gone with the Wind. An example of a well-known movie title change would be Toy Story, which was originally called You Are a Toy! Another example is Scream, which started as Scary Movie. Scream or Scary Story would be an apt description of the content of this movie.
Imagine if our lives had a “Working Title” that described the content of our lives. Every season of our lives, every experience would change the title. Some of the titles might be:
Safe in Mommy’s Arms
I Broke My Right Arm and Can’t Ride my Bike With my Friends
My life is Over as I Just Broke Up With my Boyfriend
Graduated From High School and Got into my College of Choice
Didn’t Get the Job I Wanted
Went Out Drinking with Friends and Lost myself for Several Years
Had a Baby
Had a Teenager
Have Aging Parents
There are so many titles to describe our life. In the midst of all the angst, thrills, and monotony of our lives, God steps in to help us understand our true “Working Title”:
Cross Carrier
Saved
Man/Woman of Prayer
Follower
Servant
Includer
Courageous
Learner
Intercessor
Believer
Lover
Giver
The list goes on. Each title describes who we are and maybe even alludes to what we should be doing. It is through our devotional life of immersing ourselves in the Scriptures and communing with God through prayer that we come to understand who we truly are and what we are called to do. Barbara Brown Taylor, in her book Always a Guest, describes the journey of what our “Working Title” could be in her address to Millbrook Baptist Church entitled “How to Lose Your Life Every Day.” Maybe we should be called “Losers” as we turn our lives around, lose ourselves, and live by some very easy and simple guidelines. Be genuine, serve others, be humble, put others first, honor and encourage others, hate what is evil, work hard, be joyful, patient in troubles, pray always . . . [1]Stop! Too much! Does this list reflect the life we are living? Is this the content of our lives? Which actions take us from “Working Title” to “Final Title?” It is clear that immersing ourselves in a relationship with God centered in prayer, worship, the Bible, and service are some of the actions that develop the plot of our lives.
The wonderful thing about our relationship with God is that we are living with a “Working Title”. 1 Cor. 13:12 reminds us that our journey is a dim representation of our whole, an incomplete version of who we are. These words of hope spur us on to love more fully, give more deeply, pray more fervently, serve more joyfully. What we do now is indeed a “Working Title.” Our “Final Title” will be Good and Faithful Servant.
Joy,
[1] Taylor, Barbara Brown, “Always a Guest”, Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, Kentucky, 2020, Pages 61-69
Nurture Faith with Dr. Doug Hood 