More Than a Beard

Scripture
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ² And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  Ephesians 5:1-2

Observant
A friend of mine recently put out a plea for someone to play Jesus for their VBS dramas.  I told her that I had been working on my Jesus for a long time, but I wouldn't be available to help.  As I reflected on the notion of getting in the character of Jesus, I thought about the guy in my church growing up that played Jesus every year in the Easter play.  About Thanksgiving he would begin to let his hair and his beard grow in preparation for the program.  People would make comments like, "Time to grow the beard so you make a good Jesus." 

Journey
I knew the guy well enough to know that he emulated more characteristics of Jesus than long hair and a beard.  The fact is that we are all charged to look like Jesus, whether we have facial hair or not - or any hair at all for that matter.  I watched a famous impressionist on the Tonight Show once who was asked by Johnny Carson, "How do you do such a great job imitating these people?"  His answer was that he does three things in order to do a great imitation.

1.  Take away everything that is myself.
2.  Learn everything you can about the person.
He then said, "If I can do the third one, I have it nailed."
3.  Spend time with the person. 

I think what he nailed was how to imitate Christ.