It posters itself across our TV’s,
radio’s, magazines, internet, and any other media form that exists: lives of
the rich and famous. These people are coined as the most successful because their
accomplishments and talents have produced the greatest recognition. These
people have the greatest of lives, or so it seems, lives that even though most
internally enhance, we envy nonetheless. A desire to be famous, that is, to be
known among the celebrated, drives dreams, guides decisions, designs thoughts, and
determines success.
What would make me great? What
would make me known? Because it is in being known, that I am important. Becoming
the best, in and how without significance, just achieving greatness is purposed.
To be the best teacher, the best coach, the best son, friend, brother; these
things plague me. Insecurity looking to become tangible confidence masks itself
into arrogance and I begin to lose at the very things I set out to occupy.
Never seeing victories, strengths or capabilities, it becomes tunnel-vision to
the shortcomings and misgivings that make me less than, that prevent me from
becoming the recognized. If am known, I am the best; if I am the best, I am the
acclaimed, I am important.
I lay
flat on my floor, analyzing the weaknesses that I offer into the next phase of
my life, career; wondering if I will ever sit among those who are thriving and
seemingly unbeaten. Creating strategies and tactics to shift paradigms and
cultures to create the success I desire, the respect I want to deserve, the
importance I crave. Reminded of the fleeting substance of being known by the
many, I realize my desire to be known is not a selfish desire, simply
misguided.
What
then would change if the aspiration to be famed found its roots in eternal
consequences? Where the footprints of my steps were marked by broken chains and
freed lives. What if the popularity’s construction was replaced with importing
value and life into the broken and hopeless? What if I forgot about my name, and
in the minutes of everyday, resolved only to promote His? Where reputation
began in heaven, while unpopulating hell.
What if famous
still happened…
…in and through
the ageless?
