A Spiritual Resumé

Interviewing candidates for a residency program in emergency medicine at Thomas Jefferson University is always enjoyable. Evaluating some extraordinary resumés and assessing the accomplishments of these medical students is fun. However, I must constantly remind myself of the comments of a friend who said, “The most important values in my life are not adequately represented on my resumé. Those include my relationships – family, friends and faith in God.” A resumé may be a poor tool to evaluate a person.

My spiritual resumé can at times show the same tendency – overemphasis on activities and accomplishments. When my spiritual life becomes dominated by activity, my faith becomes religious ritual rather than a living, loving relationship with Jesus. I must be reminded that the evaluation tool God uses is not my spiritual resumé but the condition of my heart.

God reminded the prophet Samuel of the danger of resumés when choosing a king for Israel.

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (I Samuel 16:7 NIV)

Activities and accomplishments are important, but never at the expense of our hearts!

Sharing the journey with you,