When I spend time thinking about what my life could be, or could have been, there are times I think that I could have been great. I could have been a prolific writer, speaker, or a person that caused great changes to the world.

I remember reading a letter from Alexander the Great to a leader of a city he was about to conquer and he said that it was his destiny to conquer that city. He believed the Gods had destined him for greatness. There are other people in the world that seemed to have the same sort of idea. Jesus knew from a very young age that he was to do something extraordinary with his life. Lincoln continued to run for many different political offices even though he lost many times.

But everyone cannot be great. Its really not even practical. Everyone cant be famous. Someone has to collect the trash, wash the dishes, change the bedpans, build the houses, serve the food, do the books, and on and on and on.

But then it hit me, when we think of greatness, we think of fame, notoreity, and events and actions that are noticed by many. The people that really have touched my life were great, but not noteworthy. Sunday school teachers, two of my aunts, my life has been changed by people I met on buses, people who came into my life for such a short time and then were gone. The tapestry of beliefs and values, of comfort and love in my life is not a result of a famous person, but of many everyday people with exceptional spirits.

That is the kind of greatness I should seek...