Then [Jesus and his disciples] came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them, and taking it in his arms he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” -Mark 9:33-37

Do you know the phrase “Main Character Energy”? It’s a Gen Z slang phrase, describing a person who moves through life in such a way that they seem to be the star of the story. It’s about self-confidence and empowerment, and maybe even adding a touch of glamor to the everyday. The idea comes from protagonists of books and movies who might not seem all that special when compared to everybody else– except for the Main Character Energy they bring. Elizabeth Bennet, Han Solo, Huckleberry Finn, the March sisters, George Costanza, Lord and Lady Macbeth– all main characters, and all in their way bringing that Main Character Energy.

I’ve been thinking about Main Character Energy. It’s generally considered a positive thing to have Main Character Energy, a reflection of positive self-worth. We certainly hope for people to have appropriate confidence and to believe themselves capable of facing life’s challenges. I hope this for me and for my children, and I hope it for you, too! Main Character Energy can turn bad, though, as it easily becomes self-centered. Main Character Energy can lead to that oldest temptation, to raise up one’s self higher than one belongs, or to start to believe that it’s the quality of a person’s story that makes them worthwhile.

But then I was watching the fifth season of Netflix’s Sweet Magnolias. Whether you call it binging or marathoning, it only took me about five days to watch all ten episodes. I have enjoyed all the seasons of what my husband describes as “pretty much a soap opera” and I’d call a good-for-the-soul low-stakes drama where reconciliation and community shine through the challenges the characters face. 

The story follows three best friends, Maddie, Helen, and Dana Sue, as they navigate parenting, work, and relationships. As I watched the latest season, I realized that I really don’t relate all that closely to any of the main characters. They certainly have Main Character Energy. They are interesting. I care about them. After all, I watched all fifty episodes of the show across the seasons. It’s not the main characters that make the show compelling, though. It’s the side characters.

There’s Paula, Maddie’s mom, who shows up with an artistic spirit around a backbone of steel to bring support or creativity to her family as needed. She’s in 33 episodes. There’s Skeeter, the local contractor who’s constantly pitching in to help with repairs around town, even when the people who need the help can’t afford to pay. He’s in only 18 episodes. There’s my personal favorite, Pastor June, whose 1-1 conversations, sermons, and community engagement make a real difference for the three main characters and the rest of the community, too. Pastor June appears in 26 episodes. None of these three have Main Character Energy. They have something better, I think: Side Character Energy.

At their best, side characters empower and uplift. They encourage. They serve. Side Character Energy doesn’t need to be the center of the story because side characters know that it isn’t all about them. Their words and actions are for the sake of others. Maybe that’s what makes Side Character Energy so appealing– because it is so humble and generous.

The search for Main Character Energy is nothing new. Jesus’ disciples asked how they could be the greatest. They thought that they needed to be the biggest deal in order to belong in God’s kingdom, and they wanted Jesus to tell them how. His answer was to tell them to become like servants and children, side characters if ever there were any. Jesus clarified that belonging to God’s kingdom doesn’t depend on how much Main Character Energy we bring. It all depends on God’s call to us, which comes from God simply because God loves us. (Not because we’re so great.) 

Being free from the pursuit of Main Character Energy means we can joyfully pursue Side Character Energy. We can lift up our neighbors. We can cheer for the other team. We can support our coworkers. We can encourage our rivals. We can even love our enemies. We can be side characters, and Jesus will draw us into his arms just the same.