“Don’t you recognize me?”

Aside from more prominent Laugh Lines and more ridiculous Tan Lines, I pretty much look the same as I did when I was 17.  And since I went to school forever and have been blessed with a diverse array of clinical and vocational experiences, I’ve had hundreds of classmates and seen thousands of patients over the years.

So naturally, this means that no trip to Costco or leisurely run on a popular public trail is “safe” when it comes to preserving my anonymity.

Most of the time, I have no difficulty recognizing past acquaintances; I can quickly access my mental dossier that includes the lady’s bloodwork from 2015, her husband’s post-operative report after the labral repair, and the names of their 4 kids.  But sometimes, I just can’t rummage through my hippocampal hard drive in time to avoid an awkward situation.  It’s pretty difficult when the last time I interacted with the guy double-fisting Costco hot dogs was 20 years and 90 pounds ago.  And other times, the snarling German shepherd that “is really friendly” might prevent me from appropriately placing the lady in the purple visor who I last saw during Obama’s first term.

And what’s funny is when I have to acknowledge my humanity and ask them to “remind me of their names,” these people are usually miffed.  What a thoughtless, inconsiderate, self-centered loser I’ve become since the last time we talked! 

And we all enjoy recognition.  We want to feel special.  We want to feel like we matter.  And it stings when we pour ourselves into people’s lives and they not only fail to recognize our contributions, they fail to recognize our character.  Sometimes people that you love act like they never knew you at all.

But ultimately, there is only One whose recognition matters.  There is only One who has the authority to say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”  And if we understand what He has done for us and continually seek to glorify Him in all we do, we will never have to utter the words, “Don’t you recognize me?” when all is said and done. 

He knows.

Matthew 7:21-23