Have you ever heard of “tall poppy syndrome”? This is a pattern of behaviour that has been observed in many different groups and cultures where people who stand out from the crowd because of exceptional skill or ability (the “tall poppies”) get “cut down to size” by their peers. It’s the tendency in human beings to criticise or sabotage those who are more successful than the norm or those who are able to achieve beyond the average. In some cultures it is even considered offensive to stand out. The individual must always remain blended in with those around him or her, and each one must do only what their designated role requires.
It may sound strange to speak of such a phenomenon in this world that is so influenced by the values of meritocracy, in which people are advanced and receive rewards according to their perceived merits or value. But, the truth is that almost all of us fall prey to “tall poppy syndrome”. It is all too easy to avoid the hard work of examining ourselves by shifting blame on to others. In Germany prior to the holocaust, the plight of struggling Germans was often blamed on Jews, who were perceived to be more successful at the expense of their non-Jewish neighbours. In South Africa during the apartheid years some white people sought to blame their economic or political difficulties on black people. I was amazed to read in Time Magazine this week that some economists in the United States are blaming America’s struggle to recuperate after the repression on China. It is much easier to blame others for the struggles we face than to look at ourselves and confront the brokenness and sin within us that may be contributing to or causing our problems.
Over the last few weeks I have been exploring the practice of praise and the impact it can have on our lives. Most of my comments have focussed on some very pleasing benefits that we can enjoy – because of God’s grace – when we offer adoration to God. There is another task of praise, though, that is less pleasant, but perhaps far more important, than any of the others I’ve written about. And it, inevitably leads us into another significant worship practice.
When we praise God, we are given a vision of God in all of God’s glory and holiness, God’s beauty and grace. In the light of this, we cannot help but become aware of those places in our lives where we lack glory and grace, where are less than beautiful in attitude and action, and where we fall short of our own standards of integrity and goodness, let alone God’s. Praise, when it is practiced mindfully and whole heartedly will inevitably lead us into an examination of our true selves, and we will find ourselves confronting the things in us that need to change – the pain, the pride, the selfishness, the laziness, the destructiveness, and all the other attitudes and actions that hurt us and others.
While we may prefer not to do this it is actually an amazing gift of grace, for it is only when we see ourselves truly – warts and all – that we are able to do the work that makes us more whole. If we continue to blame our brokenness on others, we will never be healed, but if we can face the truth about ourselves and open ourselves to God’s healing, we are able to rise above our worst tendencies. And this is where praise leads us into the work of confession – the honest, vulnerable acknowledgement of those parts of ourselves that need transformation, forgiveness and healing.
So, how much do you practice “tall poppy syndrome” and how is that working for you? If you would rather be free of the blame game, and begin to find wholeness and life, perhaps it’s time to allow praise to show you your true, broken self, and then begin to embrace the healing practice of confession. You can even start now.
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John van de Laar is a Methodist minister, liturgical consultant and the author of the book Food for the Road – Life Lesson from the Lord’s Table. He holds a Master’s Degree in theology from UNISA, and is the founder of Sacredise.com, an international worship training and resourcing ministry. John is married to Debbie, and they have two sons.
Visit www.sacredise.com for more articles by John, as well as resources for personal and public worship – music, prayers, liturgies, images and drama scripts.