Me and My Alter Ego

Written By Renny Acheampong, Denmark

Have you ever watched Disney shows as a kid? Well, I have. One of the shows I remember watching was Lizzie McGuire, an American teen sitcom about the alter ego of the title character. This alter ego is a cartoon character called Animated Lizzie, who functions as Lizzie McGuire’s inner monologue. She walks about, jumps, and sometimes even hollers in Lizzie’s mind. A few weekends ago, I had a taste of what it was like to have my own animated alter ego.

It was at an official farewell service my church had organized for me. I was leaving as I was relocating after 16 years of service there. Among the many kind words they said to me were things like, “Renny, you’ve left a legacy”, and “Renny, your reward will be great in heaven”. Someone even used the Apostle Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 to describe my life, “Renny, I can confidently say that you have fought the good fight of faith”.

I was genuinely surprised by the praises they were singing of me; never in my wildest dreams had I thought that my actions had made such an impact on the community. That’s when my alter ego made her entrance to remind me of the One who had made all the difference. “Lord, do these people even know what they are saying? Do they know that every good thing I ever did, it was You who did? Do they know that behind this seemingly confident, almost-never-tired-working-for-the-Lord Renny is a really weak and fragile Renny? Do they know that I struggle with my flesh too? Do they know of the countless number of times that I failed and disappointed you? Do they know of the times I did not even want to exist anymore because I felt life was too unbearable? Do they know that I cry myself to sleep at times? Do they know of the many insecurities I have? How can they possibly say such good stuff about me? I never did anything. It was all You, Lord!”

After my alter ego finished her soliloquy, I felt a renewed conviction about why and who I was serving. What matters most isn’t what we acquire on earth, but rather what we store up in eternity. Pleasing Jesus is more important than pleasing man. I want to make my life count for eternity.

Later that evening, I went down on my knees and cried to the Lord to help me to focus on pleasing Him and to do His will and accomplish the purpose which He created me for.

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”—Psalm 90:12