Second Fiddle
When it comes to finishing second, there's a few phrases that view it as nothing more than an empty consolation. There's the phrases "second is just the first loser" and "the only person who remembers who was second was the person that go". You could take that step further with Ricky Bobby's life philosophy of "if you ain't first, you're last". People want to remember winners, not the person that almost won. It can be hard enough to remember winners at times, let alone remember the runners-up. Simply put, no one dreams of finishing second. And why would they? Being second means you're not the best.
As a consolation for coming in second, people will say "first is worst, second is best, third is the one with hairy chest/treasure chest". Then again, if third has the treasure chest, maybe finishing third is best. Kidding aside, there may be truth to second being best. I once that the toughest position to play in an orchestra -- but also the most pivotal piece -- is the second fiddle. When people talk about playing "second fiddle" to someone, it is viewed with a negative connotation, as though they are in someone else's shadow. That also may be why it's so hard to - literally - play second fiddle in an orchestra. Playing second fiddle isn't as glamorous as playing first fiddle (ironically though, "second fiddle" is a common phrase whereas no one uses the term "first fiddle"). The reason why playing second fiddle is so important is because the orchestra has no harmony or flow without it. Another way to look at it is this: one may not notice when the second fiddle is present, but one will notice when the second fiddle is absent.
Similar to an orchestra, one can look around at successful organizations or companies and notice the "second fiddles" in those. Sure, there may be transcendent, inspiring leadership at the top, but even leadership itself needs that buy-in from others to make a difference. The people in those roles aren't going to get the same glory or praise as the leaders do, but they are just as integral to success. The thing is, being that second fiddle to someone is hard. I don't think anyone wants to be viewed or treated as though they aren't as important or feel forgotten and overlooked.
For me, I've long struggled with feeling like I'm always in someone else's shadow and that all I am good for is a second fiddle, that I'm not capable of being that first fiddle. On one hand, I've been okay with being more behind the scenes and helping out in any way I can. On the other hand, I don't want to just be viewed as a sidekick, comic relief, or an afterthought. You know, I don't want to be viewed as one who's not capable of being the first fiddle. And at times, even when I've been in a position of leadership, I've struggled to truly believe I'm capable of being in that role and have used past leaders as a crutch. Over the past few weeks though, what I've been learning is that no matter what role you are in - first fiddle or second fiddle, you have to accept that role that God has entrusted you with and live out that role with humility.
Being second fiddle is what one makes of it - good and bad. For John the Baptist, his whole purpose was to fulfill Isaiah's prophecy -- preach in the wilderness the coming of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist's whole ministry was centered around telling others that the Messiah is coming and that Jesus, not himself, is the promised Messiah that God has sent to save the world. In fact, John the Baptist even told heothers he wasn't fit to untie Jesus' sandals (John 1:27). John the Baptist was content with the role God has placed him in - to humbly point others to Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. One can even look at Jesus' ministry and see that he humbled Himself before others, preaching that the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28). One can only dream of having that humility.
Conversely, there are instances of others that were not second fiddle - and ultimately paid the consequences for it. Recently, I read through the Book of Esther, where Haman's pride caused his downfall. Haman was the king's right-hand man, but commanded the respect and reverence that was reserved not only for the king, but for God. He wanted others to bow before him. The minute it was pointed out to Haman that someone wasn't paying him the respect that he wanted, he let it consume him. He deceived the king into a passing an edict to annihilate the Jews (Mordecai, the man who refused to pay respects to him, was found to be a Jew). Little did he know that Queen Esther was also a Jew, who later exposed Haman's plot. Haman's downfall wasn't Mordecai though. Mordecai merely exposed Haman's excessive pride and desire to solely seek applause and praise from the world. Haman was never going to be content playing second fiddle to anyone, even if he got to live in the palace.
On a more lighthearted note, I'm also reminded of Jafar in Aladdin as an example of what happens when we refuse to be second fiddle (or in his case, second best). Jafar was the sultan's trusted advisor, but he wanted more. He didn't want to be second to the sultan - he wanted to be sultan. Even when he became sultan and an-all powerful sorcerer through the genie, Aladdin baits Jafar by telling him he's still just "second best" because the genie has more power. Jafar was never content being seconded - not in the palace and not in terms of power. Jafar traded always being second to have all the power in the world....only to find himself trapped in a lamp. Both Jafar and Haman had great positions, but their inability to accept being second led to their downfalls. They weren't okay with being second best or second fiddle.
To close, I'm reminded by a quote from a friend. He mentioned that we're all secondary characters in God's story. Being a second fiddle requires humility and sacrificing our own glory for someone else. This doesn't mean that we beat ourselves up (a humility lesson I'm still learning), but that we live out our lives the way John the Baptist and Jesus Christ did in their ministries. As I've been walking in learning in the leadership role I'm now in, I'm reminded that I always will be a second fiddle- to God and His Son Jesus Christ. And there's no role that could ever bring greater joy or purpose than that.
Similar to finishing second, it's safe to say no one dreams of being second, either. It's not as glamorous to be someone's right-hand man as it is to be the one in charge. There's a reason the superlative "Most Likely to Become President" exists and not "Most Likely to Become Vice President". If I were to sit down and think about it, I could list off all the U.S. Presidents in order. However, I don't think I'd be able to name half of the U.S. Vice Presidents - let alone have them in the correct order (sorry, Schuyler Colfax and Levi Morton). Delaware is nicknamed "The First State", as it was the first U.S. state to ratify the Constitution. Somehow, "The Second State" didn't catch on for Pennsylvania (I had to look this one up!). There's something to be said about being second to someone else. On one hand, being second can be a cushy job. But on the other hand. does anyone really want to be viewed as a sidekick?
As a consolation for coming in second, people will say "first is worst, second is best, third is the one with hairy chest/treasure chest". Then again, if third has the treasure chest, maybe finishing third is best. Kidding aside, there may be truth to second being best. I once that the toughest position to play in an orchestra -- but also the most pivotal piece -- is the second fiddle. When people talk about playing "second fiddle" to someone, it is viewed with a negative connotation, as though they are in someone else's shadow. That also may be why it's so hard to - literally - play second fiddle in an orchestra. Playing second fiddle isn't as glamorous as playing first fiddle (ironically though, "second fiddle" is a common phrase whereas no one uses the term "first fiddle"). The reason why playing second fiddle is so important is because the orchestra has no harmony or flow without it. Another way to look at it is this: one may not notice when the second fiddle is present, but one will notice when the second fiddle is absent.
Similar to an orchestra, one can look around at successful organizations or companies and notice the "second fiddles" in those. Sure, there may be transcendent, inspiring leadership at the top, but even leadership itself needs that buy-in from others to make a difference. The people in those roles aren't going to get the same glory or praise as the leaders do, but they are just as integral to success. The thing is, being that second fiddle to someone is hard. I don't think anyone wants to be viewed or treated as though they aren't as important or feel forgotten and overlooked.
For me, I've long struggled with feeling like I'm always in someone else's shadow and that all I am good for is a second fiddle, that I'm not capable of being that first fiddle. On one hand, I've been okay with being more behind the scenes and helping out in any way I can. On the other hand, I don't want to just be viewed as a sidekick, comic relief, or an afterthought. You know, I don't want to be viewed as one who's not capable of being the first fiddle. And at times, even when I've been in a position of leadership, I've struggled to truly believe I'm capable of being in that role and have used past leaders as a crutch. Over the past few weeks though, what I've been learning is that no matter what role you are in - first fiddle or second fiddle, you have to accept that role that God has entrusted you with and live out that role with humility.
Being second fiddle is what one makes of it - good and bad. For John the Baptist, his whole purpose was to fulfill Isaiah's prophecy -- preach in the wilderness the coming of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist's whole ministry was centered around telling others that the Messiah is coming and that Jesus, not himself, is the promised Messiah that God has sent to save the world. In fact, John the Baptist even told heothers he wasn't fit to untie Jesus' sandals (John 1:27). John the Baptist was content with the role God has placed him in - to humbly point others to Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. One can even look at Jesus' ministry and see that he humbled Himself before others, preaching that the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve (Matthew 20:28). One can only dream of having that humility.
Conversely, there are instances of others that were not second fiddle - and ultimately paid the consequences for it. Recently, I read through the Book of Esther, where Haman's pride caused his downfall. Haman was the king's right-hand man, but commanded the respect and reverence that was reserved not only for the king, but for God. He wanted others to bow before him. The minute it was pointed out to Haman that someone wasn't paying him the respect that he wanted, he let it consume him. He deceived the king into a passing an edict to annihilate the Jews (Mordecai, the man who refused to pay respects to him, was found to be a Jew). Little did he know that Queen Esther was also a Jew, who later exposed Haman's plot. Haman's downfall wasn't Mordecai though. Mordecai merely exposed Haman's excessive pride and desire to solely seek applause and praise from the world. Haman was never going to be content playing second fiddle to anyone, even if he got to live in the palace.
On a more lighthearted note, I'm also reminded of Jafar in Aladdin as an example of what happens when we refuse to be second fiddle (or in his case, second best). Jafar was the sultan's trusted advisor, but he wanted more. He didn't want to be second to the sultan - he wanted to be sultan. Even when he became sultan and an-all powerful sorcerer through the genie, Aladdin baits Jafar by telling him he's still just "second best" because the genie has more power. Jafar was never content being seconded - not in the palace and not in terms of power. Jafar traded always being second to have all the power in the world....only to find himself trapped in a lamp. Both Jafar and Haman had great positions, but their inability to accept being second led to their downfalls. They weren't okay with being second best or second fiddle.
To close, I'm reminded by a quote from a friend. He mentioned that we're all secondary characters in God's story. Being a second fiddle requires humility and sacrificing our own glory for someone else. This doesn't mean that we beat ourselves up (a humility lesson I'm still learning), but that we live out our lives the way John the Baptist and Jesus Christ did in their ministries. As I've been walking in learning in the leadership role I'm now in, I'm reminded that I always will be a second fiddle- to God and His Son Jesus Christ. And there's no role that could ever bring greater joy or purpose than that.
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