Barnabas

Barnabas was an early disciple of Christianity.  He was a big deal.  He sold property and gave the money to the church.  He was at the first Church Council in Jerusalem to decide important issues.  He was sent out as special emissary and he introduced Paul to the leadership when Paul was a nobody.  Then he and Paul became famous as a team.  Then Barnabas got dumped from the historical narrative.  He disappeared from view as Paul became the more famous.  This stuff happens to many of us.  We seem to have a central and memorable role to play in the life of a family, community, business, club, and then suddenly or slowly we become anonymous, not so central, even forgotten.  Many of us have the experience of: "I used to be somebody."  I am nothing much now in the priest/church business.  I have no title or clear job description.  I used to be someone with a title and job: Pastor.  Stuff happens and oblivion becomes our companion.  But we who have this happen to us are no less important or less worthy than before.  We are simply less recognized or needed in a specific role/job.  The empty nest syndrome is an example, or your child becomes a "teenager" and you are just a pain in the neck to them.  You get to a certain age in your corporate job, and get the feeling the bosses wish you were gone.  But our self-worth is not based upon titles or what others think of us.  It comes from within.  Everything else is fleeting.