Christian Reflection and Prayer

THE MAN WHO PLAYED GOD

"If anyone wants to be a follower of Mine, let
him renounce himself and take up his cross
and follow Me" (Mark 8:34).

Many years ago, a film called "The Man Who
Played God" was released. It featured the great
character actor, George Arliss, playing the part
of a prominent, rich musician. Because he was
losing his hearing, the musician became
embittered and cynical. Not only did he turn his
back on his friends, he turned his back on God.
He moved into a penthouse where he began to
learn the art of lip-reading. From his penthouse
window, overlooking a park, he would look through
a set of high-powered binoculars and try to read
people's lips. One day he concentrated on a young
man whose lips were moving in prayer. He
determined what it was the young man was praying
for and then dispatched his butler to deliver it to
him. On another occasion he read the lips of a
woman who was telling another about something
she needed and wanted desperately. Again, the
wealthy musician saw to it that the need was met.
And each time he performed one of these services,
the cynical musician would look heavenward and
laugh in God's face. He found it laughable that he
was playing God but didn't even believe in God. But
as time went by, and his eccentric method of meeting
people's needs continued, something strangely
wonderful began to happen. The man who played God,
found God. Through the game he was playing -- the
game of serving people's needs -- the very God he
didn't believe in became real to him, because God is
a God of service.

(Sunday Sermons on Line)