He must increase, but I must decrease.
John the Baptist says this right as his own following starts shrinking and Jesus's is growing. He must increase, but I must decrease. Most people would fight that shift. He calls it necessary — even good.
There's something almost relieving in that, if you think about how much energy goes into being the center of your own story. Managing your image, protecting your reputation, making sure you get the credit. John found a way to let go of all of that without it sounding like defeat.
You don't have to sign up for a lifetime of self-erasure to find that interesting. Just notice the freedom in his voice — a man who stopped needing to be the main character, and somehow sounds lighter for it, not smaller.
If the exhausting part of life has been staying at the center of it, this might be worth a second look.
A short video on this is coming soon — for now, read on.