So Jake out of nowhere, says, “Dad, I like being me.”
It’s too bad we can’t all have that healthy of a perspective when it comes to how we perceive ourselves. Most of us don’t believe there’s anything incredibly noteworthy within to offer to the world.
I had the honor of having a cup of joe with Wes, the president of Compassion yesterday. Sitting in his office, you can’t help but feel the enormous weight of responsibility that he carries on his shoulders every day.
Our conversation segued from my health to work and over to life trials in general. But at the end of the conversation, he asked (I think, unless I just blurted it out – which is probably more likely) if I had any questions for him.
In fact, I did. The question: “When you were growing up, did you or any leaders around you sense greatness in you?”
Without a break, a simple “no”.
Hm. Makes me wonder. Here’s a man who leads an organization that has a broad reach – around the entire world – with an eternal impact on the lives of children and their families. Greatness, in my opinion.
Yet he never saw it coming...or, at least, early on anyway.
I found that incredibly freeing. You know how it is...you’re young and you’re not really sure where you fit on the world stage. You might hear people telling you that you’re destined for greatness.
Or, maybe you were told just the opposite.
Either way, life happens and we fall into normal. Kids to school. Presentations to present. Bills to pay.
Not great, but good. And that starts to be o.k.
But o.k. doesn’t last long, and we start to get restless. Frustrated. So we jump from job to job thinking something will click. We go back to get more schooling so we can get that big break.
Mark Zuckerberg. Anyone could have come up with that idea. But he did. And he’s worth 25 billion – surpassing Steve Jobs and becoming the youngest billionaire ever. If Facebook users were all in one place, it would be the 8th largest country in the world. He left an indelible imprint on this earth. He, in our most commonly known terms, achieved greatness. Still, I wonder – has he?
I wonder if you sense greatness in yourself. I’m going to roll the dice and say probably not. My guess is you think that somewhere along life’s narrative you missed your line in the script and now, well, the curtains have all but closed.
I last about 5 minutes in a motivational seminar. One person, standing in front of thousands, talking about leadership or success or greatness or determination with theoretical adages thrown into well-articulated anecdotes.
Truth is though, if you don’t believe there’s a seed of greatness in you, your chance has passed. Greatness doesn’t come seeking us out, I don’t think. It’s our response to life’s opportunities and adversities that defines the fingerprint we leave on our life.
I’ve been blessed with incredible parents whose echoes still ring in my ears...”You’re going to do something huge with your life, Chad.”
Truth is, at 38, I don’t ‘feel’ greatness inside of me. During the last four months, it’s been just the opposite – fighting the feeling of self pity – or feeling like I’ve been dealt a losing hand and the guy next to me just went all in. But when the haze clears, what will define me is my response to what’s happened and did I redeem the pain. It will be a long time before the last chapter is written, but I am going to keep striving to that end.
I’ll mess up. I know I’ll get frustrated, overwhelmed and afraid. But that’s what greatness robes itself in. “Pressing on, I take hold of that which has taken hold of me.”
I don’t think it matters if we feel that seed of greatness inside of us. My Maker says I was made in His image, so I figure that’s a good place to start.
An incredible price has been paid for you. How will you redeem that? Do you believe you were worth it? Can you say to God, and mean it:
“Dad, I like being me.” ...? Thanks for the life lesson Jakey.