I was traveling back to Jacksonville from Memphis after visiting one of the Yesha schools. I had finished up some notes on a previous flight, so I thought I would read a magazine. There were only two available, so I chose the Airline’s. On the front cover was a picture of a young blossoming starlet. For some reason I was compelled to go to the article which proved to be very interesting. Blake Lively’ s story was one of not wanting to act, but being dragged in by her brother and then finding her calling. Near the end of the article, she made a statement that really struck me as profound in many ways, as well as truthful. The more I thought about the statement, though, the more I realized that there was something missing in the statement that we could all learn from. Here is the quote:

“In most aspects of life, and probably in most people’s lives, you show up each day, you give your best effort, and maybe the world takes that into consideration as it grows and evolves without you.” If I interpreted her words properly, each of us tries to do our best in whatever calling our life provides us. Sometimes it has an impact on others, but for the most part they choose whether it said enough to be significant and really change them. The reality is that even with her wide reach, her statements and the message she portrays, may possibly have an impact on a minor part of the world’s population. So despite her reach in comparison to us “normal people” who come and go to/from this earth without much fanfare, the reality is that the world goes on without us and will grow and develop despite our coming and going. While there is great truth in this statement, it also leaves me a bit empty.

While each of us will have different spheres of influence in our lives, your sphere is of the utmost importance – because God designed your time and space for “such a time as this.” Each of us is accountable for the lives we live and touch. Therefore we will be praised or condemned either privately or publically. The greater the audience, the greater the praise or condemnation you receive from others. However, in the end there is really only one who matters, “Quorum Deo”, your Heavenly Father. Your significance and value to others is not considered based on numbers, but on quality. Your eternal reward is not based on how many people knew your name, but if the people who knew you were touched positively by your existence. So the missing piece to her statement is not whether the world grows and evolves without you, but that your piece of the world grew and evolved because of you.

Many people want to do things “in a big way.” For those who are provided with a wide reach, comes a great responsibility when we read James 3:1. Regardless of whom you are, if the truth is known, most see the glaring flaws they possess and if they are wise, significant introspection comes about. For those who are called to be more visible than others, they must focus, with greater attention, on the quality of their lives because it impacts more people. In Romans 1:20 we see that not everyone is going to get the message, despite how clearly it is given. However, the quality of your life is your statement. Not everyone embraces quality because quantity often appears (temporarily) more appealing or rewarding.

Don’t worry about the breadth of your life, focus on the depth. The Spirit of God will take the quality of your life and use it for those who are willing to listen. In reality, they are the ones who can take your lessons and grow and evolve.

Love Dad