Uncommon-common lives?
Terry Dashner????Faith Fellowship Church PO Box 1586 Broken
Arrow, OK 74013
Not long ago I read a story about the Danish sculptor,
Thorwaldsen. Returning to his home from Italy where he had spent
a considerable amount of time sculpting marble pieces of art
which had made him famous, something odd happened.
As his servants unpacked the marble pieces, they scattered on
the ground the straw in which the sculptures were packed. The
next summer, flowers from the gardens of Rome were blooming in
the streets of Copenhagen, from the seeds thus borne in the
straw and planted by accident. While breathing life into the
cold marble, Thorwaldsen was at the same time unconsciously
scattering other beautiful things to give cheer and gladness.
While mulling over this story in my mind, I couldn?t ignore the
irony. I think that only time will tell the bitter truth to what
I?m about to say. It seems, all too often, we spend our lives
protecting, guarding, and nurturing the ostensibly important or
high profile things of our lives, yet it is the uncommon duties
of our lives that impact others and live far beyond our
showcased efforts. Many times we emphasize our talents,
perfecting them throughout our lives and thinking they are our
legacy to this world, yet time will disclose the real impact: it
was the simple smile, touch, and hand-extended that made us
endearing to the world.
Your common life has uncommon value. It?s not the rich and
famous who make this world a better place; it?s the ?average
Joes? that touch lives. Not every Nobel Peace Prize winner was
rich and famous. One was sworn to poverty, and lived a Catechism
of Christ likeness, and had an uncommon love for her fellowman.
Mother Teresa. Need I say more?
I can?t name one rich and famous person that I know on a first
name basis; however, I know many uncommon-common people. As a
matter of fact, when I close my eyes and think of those who have
had the most impact on my life, there appears a handful of
everyday people?public school teachers, ministers of the Gospel,
and my parents.
If by chance God uses me to leave something good behind, it will
be an extension of the lives that have come before me. It will
be the lives of those who have made an impact on my life, still
effecting change in this world through me. After all, I stand on
the shoulders of uncommon-common men and women who have left
legacies of uncommon valor to their fellowman. Chances are: you
are one of these uncommon-common lives.
Keep the faith. Stay the course. Jesus is coming again. Chance
are it will be the common people alone who recognize Him.
Pastor T.
About the author:
Pastors a small church in Broken Arrow, OK. U.S. Navy veteran,
retired police office from the City of Tulsa, and father of
three grown children and two grandchildren. One is already home
with the Lord.
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