Greatness

I have been getting blog updates from a pretty amazing man for awhile now, forwarded from our family.  His name is Kristian.  He's battling cancer.  I won't go into details here, but you can read about his journey of faith, pain, and determination here.  Let me just say that this man can write.  Kristian has a gift for communication.  He is honest, raw, and insightful.  He is an inspiration and I pray for him often.  I have just read his latest post, and been inspired yet again.  He talks about greatness, and the desire to be great.  Don't we all secretly hanker after it? 

To be someone, to have significance, to do something amazing. 

In every human heart, there is a spark of greatness. 

The issue is that we seem to have difficulty working out just what greatness IS.  Is it being famous, a movie star perhaps?  Is it breaking a swimming record, or owning multiple businesses?  Is it a postgraduate degree, owning a motorhome, or having a picture-perfect model family? 

Or is it a little more subtle than that?  Bending down to tie a shoelace.  Smiling when someone looks sad, and asking how they feel.  Then taking the time to really listen.  Wiping a child's snotty nose.  How is that great?  Gross, more like!  But is not greatness defined by the receiver, rather than the giver?  Greatness seems to be something that we all want, but few find.  I really liked reading Kristian's take on greatness.  He's learned it from observing the best, the man who chose to give up his innocent life to save people who were not even his friends (Jesus).  This is what Kristian says (after speaking of someone who gave him a very touching gift):

"I think, that's how you become truly great. You help others. You put yourself last so that they can go first. You don't have to have a million dollars in the bank. What is it you have in your hand? What are you good at? Are you a mechanic? Does someone you know need help with their car? Are you a gardener? Is someone you know unable to tend their garden? Are you an accountant? Does someone you know need help with their tax return? Are you a stay at home mum and you cook a mean pasta? Do you know someone who could really do with some help at meal time? Are you a cleaner? Do you know someone who needs their house cleaned every now and then? Are you a regular dude who sees a family in a restaurant and you want to pay their bill? Do it. These are the sorts of things that make you great. These are the things that change the lives of others. I speak from experience. I know. All of the things listed above are things people have done and continue to do for me and my family.


Jesus said: "What you do to the least of these.... you do unto me."

"Love" is a verb... a doing word.

Have a think about it.... then look around, find someone that needs a hand.

We all do."

I can't really add anything to that.  Greatness.  Look deeper, and find some in yourself today.  From personal experience, when you give, you are in fact receiving.
Amy