| We’ve been dealing with some pretty heavy stuff in our house these last few weeks. Have you ever seen the list that floats around about all the things that happen in life that create the most stress? We’ve hit or almost hit a few of those all at once. Job issues, moving, building, someone stealing from us, kids growing up and being teenagers, etc. It’s been a lot lately. So this past weekend Lici and I got away with a couple of our friends and just did our thing on Saturday. Went to a concert, stayed in a hotel. It was great. For a brief moment, forgot about all the other junk. It was needed and fun and healthy. We don’t do it enough. All of that said, have you ever thought about how ultimately insignificant your significant thing is? Not trying to downplay anyone’s struggles. We all have some and I believe that everyone’s worst thing they are dealing with is bad. It is your worst issue. And who am I to say that your worst issue is not as bad as my worst issue. It is, in fact, your worst. That means that in the moment, it is hard. But a little perspective is important. Whatever you are dealing with that is your hardest thing is on a continuum, a “sliding scale of suck”, if you will. If one objective person could look at everyone’s worst thing, they could maybe rate them on a scale and tell you if your worst thing is worse than mine or not. Doesn’t change that it is YOUR worst thing. So on your scale, it is a 10. In the entire world, it might be a 2. In TN it might be a 5. Regardless, it is your 10. If we can all remember that and show some grace to people. And stop comparing or somehow “one upping” people because our life is so much harder than theirs, life would be better. Empathy could go a long way. Grace rather than condescension. Love and care rather than dismissal. And a healthy dose of just how insignificant YOU are. You occupy at any given moment about 3 square feet of a planet that has over 7 billion people. That planet is one of 8 (or 9, still love you Pluto) in one solar system out of hundreds of billions in one galaxy out of hundreds of billions of galaxies. And don’t even get me started on multiverses and theoretical stuff. I know you’ve heard that before, or at least some version of it. And the answer is still, so what, doesn’t make me feel better? Well, knowing how tiny we really are triggers me to want to make an impact bigger than myself. Makes me want to BE more significant than I AM, at least physically. How do I do that? I choose to do that, to spread my impact, through good. Through empathy. Through grace. Through building rather than tearing down. So my question to you, what are you building today? |
