In 2006 my brothers and I were in Orlando on our annual Spring Training trip.

Four days of spring baseball,
NCAA playoffs and PGA golf at
Bay Hill.

We were at Braves Field in their Spring Training facility on the Disney property.

The three of us we standing on the mezzanine watching the game and talking.

An usher with a Braves name tag on came up to us and started talking.

He then turned to me, glanced at my two brothers and asked me…..

“Okay, who did you play for?”

I said, “Sir?”

He repeated,
“Who did you play for?
“Who are you?”

I said, “ I am not really anybody”

He would not accept that and continued …
“ You’re wearing a Players ring… who did you play for?”

I told him did not play in the Majors.

He waved his hand, shook his head, laughed and walked away.

I don’t know who he thought I was.

In 2007, there was a fundraiser at the Convention Center downtown. It was sponsored by the Governor’s wife.
Several hundred people were in attendance.

As we sat at a table with several people, I saw a good friend across what was a very large exhibit hall.

I excused myself, went across the room, spoke to my friend and his wife and turned to walk back to my table.

As I walked toward my seat, two women jumped out of their seats
and one tapped me on the arm, asked to speak to me, and with a smile on her face, said…..

“Sir, I want you to know I support you and am 100% behind you.”

With a somewhat confused grin I told her “Thank you.”

She then asked if she could have a picture taken with me…and gestured toward her friend.

I answered…”Well, uh…I guess…”

She tried to put her hand inside my elbow, which I would not let her do… and her friend took the photo.

After the quick picture, I started to walk off and her friend said, “Thank you so much, and we will vote for you as long as you run”

I believe she thought I was the Governor.

I am sure her friends asked her later who in the world she had her picture taken with …when they saw the photo.

She had me confused with someone she thought she recognized.

These episodes came to my mind this week when I was eating breakfast before going to the office.

The lady who serves me breakfast most workdays told me that as I left the restaurant the day before… a man walked up to her,
asked her who I was,
and told her he thought I had played professionally for a team he followed.

Who did he think I was???

Who did he think I looked like??

I must have a familiar face which reminds people of someone else.

I can tell you what I want to hear at some point.

And it has nothing to do with looks or a familiar, easily confused face.

I hope I hear that someone thinks ….

I remind them of Jesus.

Obviously, it would be
from words, actions or behavior.

I have not looked like Jesus a lot in my life.

My desire, though,
is that some aspect of
my behavior,
my words,
my life as a whole…..

would remind someone of the One
to whose Image I am hopefully being conformed to.

And that is my desire…..
to be conformed to his likeness.

It is a compliment to have someone think you are or were someone well-known.

A compliment is merely a word.

However …..
if I can be seen,
in any way,
to be in the likeness of Christ…

that is a greater reward than any
confused compliment could ever be.

And it could have a greater eternal effect on the one seeing me… than them having momentarily met some well-known person.

It’s about what matters….

not what is merely a perception.