Significance

Significance                 

By John W. Vander Velden

There comes a time in each of our lives when we wonder -- wonder about significance….

It is only natural that we consider the effects our existence has had on the world around us.  Too easily, we buy into the notion that the individual spends their lifetime doing invisible acts of no value, in a world populated by masses nearly innumerable. That only a few -- the famous -- the powerful -- have any effect upon the world we know.

Yet we -- the ordinary -- live our lives, dealing with the everyday, facing continually changing challenges, and in doing so have the capacity of profoundly influencing the world.

Perhaps you have gone to a funeral and overheard some of the many conversations… “…I remember when she…”, “During that terrible snow he…”, “There was that time he helped me before I asked…”, so on and so forth.

There is nothing ordinary about ordinary people.  Each person brings a unique gift to the world and its inhabitants.  Each, paying bills, raising kids, mowing their yard, and countless other ordinary things -- acts that like a pebble thrown into a pond, sending out ripples that touch many lives in ways seen and unseen.

Each of us change the world -- and many of us change it in ways we never realize.  Does this give us a right to brag -- to puff ourselves up in arrogant self-importance?  No!  For we humbly accept that all others share in this honor -- that everyone brings their special talents accomplishing unique tasks benefiting a few it might seem, but in truth benefit us all.

A digital photograph is made up of millions of tiny squares of color.  These squares are grouped to form shapes.  These shapes are grouped to form things, like trees, cars, or even faces.  These nearly microscopic squares may be different or similar to the squares that are assembled together.  It would be easy to say that because there are so many, each particular square does not matter.  But as a photographer I can assure you, you would notice if one was missing!  Without you, there would be a hole in the photograph that is our universe!

GOD placed you with care -- in the place HE chose -- to fill an important square at an important time!  HE gives each of us value -- He gives each of talents -- whether we recognize them or not.  But most of all GOD gives us significance!

(413 Words)