When I was in college I had the opportunity to be a part of a few Ministry Teams. The faculty director of the groups was kind of a interesting individual. But, he had one of those personalities you just do not forget about. He had a God given renewed heart and even Ray Charles could see his passion for others. I want to produce those natural inherent qualities he left others with just after a first impression. We should all want to do the same thing. But, the problem is, we live in such an impressionistic environment we are not concerned about the other person, only what that person thinks of us. Our impressionistic environment reflects our own selfishness. Rob, the man I speaking about just a bit ago did not have that problem, he truly cared about others. We all have our problems, but the root of all of them is most likely ourselves.
I’m going on a trip back before college, before high school, and even before 1st grade, kindergarten. I think it was around this time when we originally began to think about our own futures. Regardless of my first chosen profession, because I thought I’d be a professional soccer, baseball, and basketball player, it still started some sort of thinking beyond the next day or even week. What I want to express is we are generating workhorses for the benefit of nothingness. Downplaying the importance of our individual futures is not the goal here. I’m not saying we all need to be doctors, politicians, or CEO’s, however, I am saying we need to be a part of something greater than ourselves.
Currently, I am a Freshman Admissions Counselor at a local University. I love my job and co-workers, but honestly I do not want to stay there until I retire. It is kind of like replacing John Nolan with Fred Mascherino (John Nolan is back by the way). It works just fine, but it’s not how it should be. I still have that one spark deep inside of me which wants to make a real difference. I follow the golden rule and bless others when an opportunity presents itself. But how often do I honestly try to present an opportunity myself to bless others? I give money to the church and through local and worldwide charities every month, which is extremely helpful but that isn’t enough. I need to sacrifice myself, which means my time.
Rob, the man I spoke of earlier, he was dedicated to others. Rob began to become ill to the point of serious hospitalization. I visited him in the hospital with some other friends and together we sang some of his favorite hymns. We didn’t say it, we didn’t have to, but as we sang we were just waiting for him to open his eyes and just smile. You know, it’s that feeling that a family has when a parent leaves and you’re just desperately waiting for mom or dad to come home and they never do. When Rob’s daughter Lauren suggested us to sing a song because it is his favorite hymn, we started singing it right away. I didn’t know all the verses so I supported the group mainly on the chorus, which was fine because I was having a hard enough time coping with what was going on in front of me. Rob being hooked up to all these machines produced such an unsettling sick feeling. You tend not to notice the patients so much when watching Scrubs, House or Grey’s Anatomy as you do in real life. Robert Cornwell died on July 14, 2010. He loved his family very much and he saw the best in people and he treated them as if they were adopted without any consultation.
When you wake up in the morning you have a chance to do something better and to be a part of something greater than yourself. You will only find this type of love through God. “A man should only have one talent”, said by Jude Law in The Talented Mr. Ripley. Maybe that one talent should be to love others. Go out there and make something of yourself. Search, explore, find what you think is truly beautiful, and make your life extraordinary.
“There is something else I am after… I am looking for my heart. Eve was created within the lush beauty of Eden’s garden, but Adam was created outside the garden in the wilderness. Only after is he brought to Eden. Ever since then boys have never been home indoors. And men have had an insatiable longing to explore. We long to return. It’s when most men come alive. The core of the man’s heart is undomesticated and that is good. "I am not alive in an office" as one North Face ad says. I am not alive on a sidewalk. The conclusion, never stop exploring. – John Eldredge
