Today's random thought is a bit more random than normal!
Remember the old tv show, Gilligan's Island? Poor Gilligan, he was forever messing up. It seemed that each episode he found a new way to do something "stupid" - something that made you want to facepalm at the ridiculousness of it all. On the rare occasions that he wasn't the "clown" of the episode...wait; he was ALWAYS the clown of the episode.
In contrast, there were all the other characters that each had endearing qualities - the Skipper who had to lead this eclectic bunch, the Professor who could make anything out of coconut shells and scrap ship parts, Ginger who was gorgeous and looked perfect every episode, Mary Ann who was equally pretty and yet just so darn likable, the Howell's - the rich couple who somehow still had plenty of the finer things in life despite being stuck on a deserted island...and Gilligan.
But today, the song from the series played in my head..."If not for the courage of the fearless crew, the Minnow would be lost." Let's see - the crew would be the Skipper...and GILLIGAN! If not for Gilligan's courage, they would have all been lost.
We all have times when we feel like the Gilligan of the bunch. We kick ourselves at our own stupidity and we're embarrassed that we're not the smart one or the pretty one or the rich one or the one that everybody loves - we're the Gilligan. But according to the song, that's not how Gilligan is remembered - he's remembered as courageous, saving the lives of those on board. His mistakes aren't sung about - it's the one moment in time when he did what he'd been prepared for.
In Esther, there's a verse that talks about perhaps Esther had been made queen for such a time as this. I know that very likely no one reading this has been crowned queen lately, but perhaps in our own Gilligan way, we have been created for such a time as this. History won't remember all the mistakes you made every day. They won't write a song about how you goofed up on a regular basis. History will remember the difference you made in the lives around you as you rose to the occasion as needed. Well, let's be honest, history probably won't remember most of us at all. But those who needed us that one time that we came through - they will remember us. And that is enough.
So for all the Gilligans out there, remember you are the fearless crew. History won't remember all your awkward times, it may not remember you at all...but you were born for such as this!
Esther 4:14 (b)
"...And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Photo by Max Goncharov on Unsplash
