Beware of the Me Monster

If you don’t know the comedian Brian Regan, I’d love to introduce you to him now. I’ve been a fan of his for the last ten years, though he’s been doing stand-up comedy for much longer than that.

For my birthday last Sunday, my wife and I were given tickets to see Regan perform. What a gift! It was the first and only time that I’ve seen him live. He did not disappoint. Almost all of his material was brand new.

My all-time favorite bit, however, is called, “Beware of the Me Monster,” which you can watch below or click here to see. A “Me Monster” is someone who always has a better story, a better joke, a better experience. They tend to dominate social settings.

It seems to me that it is one role of poets, prophets, and preachers to cause us to reflect deeply on human nature, especially to do so in fresh ways. The best comedians assume this mantle, too. Sure, they want us to laugh, but sometimes it’s an awkward, uncomfortable, guilty laugh. At one point in the clip, Regan even asks rhetorically, “What is it about the human condition that we get something out of [topping another person’s story]?”

I’ve often wanted to show this clip when I train small group Bible study leaders. Small group leaders have to deal with so many different personalities and levels of maturity. There are new Christians and long-time Christians; there are those comfortable praying out loud and those who are not; and there are those who don’t talk enough and those who are . . . Me Monsters.

And by the way, if you don’t know who the Me Monster is in your group of friends, uh-oh, it might be you!

[Picture from Comedy Central]