I have been called a lot of things. Some labels are more appropriate than others. Over recent weeks I have been confused with a number of people who are not Carl Greene. Perhaps you have had similar experiences.
I have recently been asked if I am the venture capitalist, Gary Vaynerchuk. At least he is a real person. I have also been confused with the fictional character Dr. Stephen Vincent Strange. Admittedly, I had never heard of Dr. Strange. I continue to be concerned that people think I am a fictional character.
While preparing for SCSC training at the Salem, NJ Walmart (that’s a long story) a kind man greeted me with a hearty “Hello Frank!” Based on the warmth of the greeting, Frank is clearly a great guy. I was a disappointment when I broke the news that I am actually Carl from Wisconsin. I think I need to work on a brief bio to make that sound more interesting.
A few days later, I was running up 303 stairs to the top of the Roche-A-Cri rock and was confused with someone else yet again. A quick aside–“Roche-A-Cri” is French for “Screaming Rock”–which is fitting for the practice of running to the top of the rock. About 2/3 of my way up the stairs I passed a grandmother and her two grandchildren. As I was passing by, she emphatically said, “Bob? Is that you?”
This was a great excuse to pause the run. It turns out Bob is her brother, and I have an uncanny likeness to him. In fact, it took some convincing that I was not Bob playing a practical joke. When we crossed paths later at the bottom of the trail, I had my wife Cindy vouch for me–I am just Carl from Wisconsin.
From Bob to Brother
I find it a bit fun when I am confused with other people–but being confused as a brother has given me pause to reflect. Do I give the people around me good reason to consider me a brother in Christ? Do I look enough like Jesus, walk enough like Jesus, talk enough like Jesus, that there is no mistaking me as a brother in Christ?
As I head out on my next run, I am reflecting on John 13:34-35. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (ESV)
