“God didn’t put us here for that pat on the back; He created us so he could be here himself, so that he could exist in the lives of those he created in his image.” M*A*S*H April 6, 1981

I suppose I have seen every episode of M*A*S*H at least a dozen or more times. However, the episode referenced above, titled “Blood Brothers” always challenges and brings a tear.

Briefly, Father Mulcahy is frantically preparing for the impending visit of a Cardinal while Hawkeye struggles to tell a patient that he has an incurable disease. Although faced with his own mortality, the patient chooses to stay in the hospital with his comrade rather than pursue immediate treatment. Meanwhile, Father Mulcahy, is raging at everyone, in fear that the Cardinal will think he is doing a rotten job.

When Mulcahy is made aware of the situation in post-op he spends the night in conversation with the terminally ill soldier. In his earnestness he completely forgets the Sunday service. When he arrives at the service, in his bathrobe, he tells the story of two men. He confesses his own selfishness in wanting a pat on the back from the visiting Cardinal, in contrast to the selflessness of the patient, willing to put his life on the line for his wounded friend. He concludes his brief homily with a profound theological statement. “God didn’t put us here for that pat on the back; He created us so he could be here himself, so that he could exist in the lives of those he created in his image.”

The image of God is not a physical image, nor is our only goal to achieve some eternal pat on the back that will make us worthy of heaven. The image of God is meant to be a functional reality. The only visible image of God is that image represented in the lives of those who profess faith and live into God’s image.

Everyone enjoys a pat on the back. Everyone enjoys hearing, “Good job!” The challenge is not to do good works for the pat on the back, but to allow the image of God to be so mirrored in us that others cannot help but see that image in our words and actions.

For those of us who struggle with being people pleasers this is a huge challenge. Do I share my time, talents, and resources with others for their affirmation? Or do I share myself with others without thought to the pat on the back? Like Father Mulcahy, do I become angry and resentful when recognition is not readily forthcoming?

I find myself needing to check my ego. There is a balance between accepting justly deserved recognition, as opposed to fishing for compliments and expecting public declarations of our worth. There is a little Father Mulcahy in all of us. We seek praise for a job well done. We expect to be recognized for our gifts. However, we do not exist for the accolades of our peers.

When Paul wrote to the Galatians, he stated it this way: “If I were still pleasing people, I would not be a servant of Christ”. (Galatians 1:10) WOW! It cannot be more clearly articulated.

Seeking a pat on the back from another person leads to unhealthy and even demonic comparisons with others. “What’s so special about her? I’m just as good as he is. Why didn’t I get the promotion?” Most of us have heard that ugly voice at some point in our lives. The voice of comparison leads to jealously, a poor self-image, and resentments that destroy relationships. When we listen to the voice of comparison we always find ourselves feeling less-than. The demonic voice of comparison insists that we exist only to achieve success in the eyes of our friends and colleagues.

On the other hand, living into the image of God, frees us from striving for the accolades of human beings. Living into the image of God affirms that we are the beloved daughter or son of God, and that assurance is complete validation of our temporal and eternal worth.

God didn’t put you or me here for a pat on the back. God created each of us, in God’s image, to be the visible presence of God. Draw your self-worth from the fact that you bear in your personhood, the image of God.