I heard someone say that he needed a "me" day this week, and it made me think.  What would that be like?  What would it be like to have a day all to myself...a "me" day where I can do what I want, when I want, for as long as I want?  Wow!  That's it!  I need a "ME" day!!  I have felt pulled in a thousand directions, and running at NASCAR speeds.  It sure would be nice to have a day for me, by me, all about me.

As I pondered this, another thought came into my mind that I tried to ignore, suppress and otherwise deny.  Of course God knew about it ( I really believe the thought came from Him, because I wouldn't have come up with it on my own).  I still try to suppress it and ignore it when it pops up.  The thought came in the form of a question:

"Do you REALLY need a ME day?  Is that what it's really about?  Is it really about YOU?"

As soon as the question came to my mind, I felt exposed.  You know...the "Adam and Eve hiding from God in the cool of the day" kind of exposed.  My mail had been read.  My sin had been found out.  The camouflage had been torn away and I was unable to hide anymore. 

In reality, I have more ME days than I would like to admit.  At my core, I want...I need...I desire...  Get the picture?  The central theme in all of that is "I."   How many days have I lived with the attitude that I deserve this or that?  Or what is the count on the times that I have thought, "It is time for me to do something for me?"  The truthful answer to those questions makes me shiver.

It seems that I live more for myself than I ever do for others.  Don't get me wrong, I serve others at times.  Yet, many of those times I find myself thinking "what about me?  Could someone do something for me?"  I am more selfish, self-absorbed, self-willed, just SELF, than I even realize.  Just typing those words makes me begin to break out in hives, and worse, excuses.  "But I deserve this...I am tired...I have worked hard...I am given out.  (Ever been there?...come on, admit it...please...misery loves company, you know...)

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippian church in chapter 2, verses 5 - 8,

5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

7 but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death–
even death on a cross!  (NIV)

If anyone ever deserved a ME day, it was Jesus.  But, as Paul said, Jesus made Himself nothing.  He was a bondservant, or slave, to the Father.  Jesus even told folks that He only came to do the will of His Father. (see John 5:30, 6:38)  Jesus' attitude was one of selfless submission to the will of God the Father.  Even at the climax of His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus yeilded and said "...nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done." (Luke 22:42 - NKJV)

I am so glad that when Jesus was on the cross, taking my sin upon Him, that He didn't climb down off of that piece of precious timber saying, "You know, this is not going to happen.  Nope!  I am not going through with this.  I am going to do something for ME instead.  That's right, I am going to have a ME day."   Jesus, of course never said that, and you and I can be eternally grateful!!

"Lord, help me to have the attitude of Jesus!  I really don't need a ME day.  I need to instead selflessly submit to your will for me, and to give my life in service to You and to others..."

After all, it's really not about ME anyway...