Greatness in 2022 and Beyond

Psalm 102:18, “Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.”

“God is looking for those with whom He can do the impossible — what a pity that we plan only the things that we can do by ourselves.” – A. W. Tozer

As I read down the list of famous people who passed on during 2021, it brought mixed feelings. There is the delight of emotions driven by what was going on in my life when they first came to my attention. There was admiration for what they had accomplished and the dedication to their craft. But there was also the melancholia of a time passed that will never be again. I started to think of people who achieved worldly greatness to see that season come to an end.

1 Peter 4:7-8, “For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and be sober-minded for the sake of pray. Most important of all, you must sincerely love each other because love wipes away many sins.”

Not All Worldly Achievements Come to an End.

If you have painted a picture, played in a band, penned a book, inspired a song, starred in a movie, people might remember your name, they might recall a memory, or they might even conjure an emotion, but will they remember you? How fleeting is fame? The euphoria of accomplishment fades over time as we create new goals to surpass. In time, skills digress, and we must be content to rest on our laurels.

I believe deep down inside, we all crave greatness. Many of us suppress that urge because we think it is beyond us, but it still lurks in the shadows; it nags at us from dark recesses when we are left alone too long. We look at social media and the news (doomscrolling), envious of what is not ours. The world defines greatness, and we strive to emulate it.

Colossians 2:8, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”

One of my favorite quotes comes from the book “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Greatness is not a Thing; it is an Emotion

This quote has become one of my life passages. As time passes, people will not remember your acts of kindness and goodness, but they will remember someone who made them feel loved. The name, the place, the exact actions are fading flowers and wisps of smoke, but the feelings stay with us the rest of our lives. It is not the accomplishment that survives time; it is the emotion the accomplishment brought on.

A movie, a song, or a picture trigger deeper meaning from the soul. They water the seed that grows from our hearts. Greatness is not a thing; it is an emotion. The awards and the platitudes are the trappings of success and greatness; the true indication of greatness is in changed lives. What seeds have you planted in the hearts of those you have touched?

Luke 16:9-10, “Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home. If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”

The Ripple Effect

Psalm 78:6, “That the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children.”

There is a ripple effect to everything we do, good or bad. When we are in a bad mood and bark at another, our lousy mood can put them in a bad mood, and they, in turn, speak poorly to someone else. The same is true; if we smile and speak kindly to someone who is not in a good mood, it may raise their spirits, causing them to treat others kindlier.

How many times has someone, uninvolved in your conversation, watched silently to the way you behaved and drew a conclusion about who you are; were they drawn closer to God or pushed away? Who did they tell? Did they decide on how to react toward you in the future based on what they saw in the past?

Greatness does not come from being right, being the best, having authority or position in life; it comes from the moments when you made others feel loved and appreciated.

Great people will tell you that greatness is not an event; it is a lifetime dedication to that for which they have passion. It is consistent over time. It is not the pinnacle of the mountain; it isn’t even the climb. It is the years of dedication and preparation to a passion that consumes them. Live life with purpose.

John 6: 68-69, “Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that You are the Holy One of God.’”