Back in 2012 I was in the process of carrying out my job, greeting people on behalf of Shorter University.
Going out into the community.
To businesses, churches and individuals sharing with them the vision of Shorter.
Somewhere around 11:00 a.m. my phone went off and it was a text from my good friend and writing colleague T.J. Brand.
He asked how my day was going.
My reply was something like, “I just do not feel like I have a contributing value to society today.”
T.J., always polite and encouraging texted back, “You are probably adding more value than you realize.”
Maybe so.
Either way the phrase stuck in my head.
On any given day each of us at times feel we are not contributing to anything of value.
That we are merely treading water.
However, survival and treading water are very much part of the journey. S
Sometimes that is all you can do.
So I retraced my steps for that day and determined maybe I did make a contribution.
I met Carlos who worked at a Honda dealership.
Bright guy.
Full ride soccer scholarship.
Two undergraduate degrees and wants to continue his studies to be involved in neuroscience.
I encouraged him to not give up on his dream.
Then there was Gloria who worked in Customer Service at the J.C. Penney Outlet store.
It turns out she has her undergraduate degree in Public Relations and wants to continue on toward her Masters.
I encouraged her to continue in her pursuits.
There were others as well.
So as I look back, nothing I did made the papers.
No democracies were established,
No lives were saved.
I can only hope that a short conversation and a positive word somehow opened the door to hope for these individuals.
People are often overwhelmed with great crowds established by a minister or evangelist.
People are awed by the size of the crowds that Christ drew.
But me?
I am more in awe that Christ came to me as an individual.
Just he and I.
As he did with so many people in the Bible and said rather quietly, “I can do something with your life if you will let me. I will give you contributing value.”
So, when I break it down like that T.J….yeah, it was a pretty awesome day.
John
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