The Signs Around Our Necks

There’s a quote by the 19th century French author, Guy de Maupassant that I love:

“The public is composed of numerous groups whose cry to us writers is: ‘Comfort me.’ ‘Amuse me.’ ‘Touch my sympathies.’ ‘Make me sad.’ ‘Make me dream.’ ‘Make me laugh.’ ‘Make me shiver.’ ‘Make me weep.’ ‘Make me think.’”

I picture people with signs around their necks, each sign proclaiming their unspoken need.

If we tweaked that quotation a bit, we would have something that should be framed and put on the desk of every minister, every pastor, every religious leader in the world. It would go like this:

“The church congregation is composed of numerous groups whose cry to their spiritual leaders is: ‘Make me feel safe.’ ‘Make me feel okay about myself.’ ‘Make me feel loved.’”

In 1980 I was trying to make a living as a street performer on Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. I was a children’s storyteller and I was frightened of starting my act, afraid no one would stop to listen. I was miserable and failing. I asked advice of the manager of the talent at Pier 39, himself a successful street performer, and he told me, “Love them.” What? “Love your audience.” He didn’t explain any further and sadly, at that time I was a long way from loving my audience.

It wasn’t until nearly twenty years later, as the spiritual leader of a Unity Church, I “got it.” I was able to open my heart to the congregation. I was able to love them. I saw that they wanted to feel safe, okay about themselves, loved. I made meeting their unspoken needs my goal. I imagined that everyone who walked into the church was wearing a sign that said “Comfort me,” “Make me cry,” or “Make me think.”  My job was to learn how to read the signs.

After all, aren’t we all wearing signs around our necks: Make me laugh, Make me weep, Make me feel safe.

P.S. By the way, de Maupassant’s little short stories hold up well today, over a hundred years after they were written. Read “The Diamond Necklace”(click here) or “A Piece of String” (click here) and see if they don’t touch one of the signs around your neck.