Greatness

I have been watching a documentary on the development of the atom bomb during world war II. In viewing the people who theorized the potential, engineered the facilities, recruited and mobilized the individuals needed for production and ultimately produced the bombs... I am ineffably amazed at humankind's abilities. As I awe over what others have done I become aware of a motivation within me which desires to captivate the same esteem which I presently feel for these great minds and bodies.

This desire I find within me, the desire to be great, is nothing new. In fact, when I hearken back to my most distant and cloudy memories I can recall this motivation propelling me to prove to the world that I am great even as a little boy. If my subjective recall of my attempts at greatness demonstrate any actual objective truth at all I find that I have been successful, even if only on a small scale, at reaching this goal. I remember my first effort in brilliance while in elementary school when I scored higher than anybody in my class on the Texas Academic Achievement Test (probably my first and last accolade of such rank in the scholarly realm). I remember my desire to be a renowned cowboy on a equine trail ride in Colorado by expectorating the biggest wad of spit amongst real cowboys, without the aid of chewing tobacco (they were impressed). I remember my motivation to be a feared force on the high school football field, despite my small frame, which earned me a plastic trophy honoring me as lineman of the year. I remember my motivation to prove to myself, and to others, that I was capable of earning a master's degree in a rigorous program despite my distaste for formalized academia. Finally I remember, in an attempt to impress my wife, moving an upright piano by myself to our new home.

Those are some of the more entertaining accomplishments that I have reached using my desire to be something great. The fact is, for me greatness has been a most powerful motivation in my life which I have used selfishly and ultimately frivolously in an effort to be renown. As I watched what others have done through this documentary and as I consider my own desire to do great things I have been humbled by a personal revelation that I have had...

Though we esteem and revere great men and women for their qualities, efforts, and accomplishments there are no great men nor women. That which we admire in those who withstand the memory of generations is that which we admire of a great God who works within us. He imparts his abilities on we meek, unmotivated, and sinful people to accomplish his goals of goodness. God, though capable of accomplishing his goals without external instruments, chooses to work through us because of His love for his creation. Through his grace and love He delegates tasks through us thoroughly demonstrating His fidelity to his beloved creation. If we acknowledge Him we therefore have a humble reliance and obligation to Him; whom without we are destined to futile exercises of selfishness. All of those whom we revere and all of what we hope to be are ever blessed with a debt of service to Him.