We’ve all delighted in gifted impressionists over the years – Mike Yarwood, Alistair McGowan, Ronni Ancona, John Culshaw, Steve Coogan, Rory Bremner and so forth. They are able to mimic the voice of someone, and occasionally the appearance as well, to such an extent that we can confuse the two. We, as Christians, are called to be impressionists in a different sense; to imitate Christ in such a way that our lives speak clearly and unmistakably to others of him. Do we get anywhere near that? I’m all too conscious of how often and how dismally I fail, but that – as the following reflective prayer from Touching the Seasons reminds us – should nonetheless be our goal.
The impressionist
He had the voices off to a tee,
the expressions and mannerisms as well,
his routine bringing to life,
in rapid-fire succession,
a host of celebrities –
politicians, sports stars, actors and royalty –
almost as though they were there in person
rather than an imitation of the real thing.
What impression do I give to others, Lord –
above all, what impression of you?
You call me to imitate Christ,
reflecting something of his light and love;
do I get anywhere close to that,
or is my discipleship a caricature of what it should be,
grotesquely wide of the mark?
Though I will always fall short,
help me, I pray, to be a little more like Jesus,
my life in some way speaking to others of him.
Amen.