The Greatness of the Giver

The last few weeks have been saturated with memorials to historical giants who have changed our world. We have reflected on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., looked back on heroes like Louis Zamperini and Bessie Coleman, and over this next week we will remember the shuttle crews of Challenger and Columbia. They came from different times and places, and faced different challenges, but I can't help but be drawn to what makes them all so similar -- their courage to serve, and to give of themselves. As January comes to a close, and we look to the remainder of 2018, I think it's important to take pause and consider this lesson.

I am an avid fan of Simon Sinek. In one of his older talks, Simon offers that we are most successful (in public speaking, business, relationships, professional endeavors, life) when we show up to give. 

If you're curious, the actual footage of the crab fisherman rescue can be found here.

And what a fantastic question to consider. Last week, my pastor posed that same question to us, "what are you doing to help the person next to you?" To explore the depth of that question, he took us on a trip way back in the day and offered that even the friends that Jesus traveled with got schooled in this. These friends of Jesus, well they got into an argument about which of them was going to be the greatest -- you know, who performed more miracles, knew the most scriptures, or was loved most by Jesus, real spiritual stuff. Then Jesus flips the script on them with this curve ball...

"Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all."

The coolest part of this, as my pastor pointed out, was that Jesus never said that they should avoid or not pursue greatness but instead he actually redefined it. Now clearly, in our lives, we have to earn money to make a living, instill solid boundaries to prevent burn out, and practice self-care to maintain good health, but both Simon and Jesus' words challenge me to consider what and who am I showing up for.

 We live in a society that moves from a "season of giving" at the end of each year immediately into a "new year, new you." In a matter of mere days our excitement for donating to charities, volunteering our time, showering people with gifts, and perfecting the art of sacrifice is largely transformed into eagerness to gain more, do more, and see more. We all want more. And I think most of us want to be great in some capacity in our lives. So maybe there is no better time to ask, at the start of this new year, while you are in pursuit greatness, 'what will I do to help the person next to me become more?'

I want to find greatness, and much like Dr. King, Louie, Bessie, and those amazing space crews, I am convinced it will be found in the service of others.

How will you pursue greatness this year?