For this answer, I turn my thoughts to the ever deep and moving "Cool Runnings" OK, maybe it isn't deep and moving, and it is 20 years old, and a rather enjoyable comedy, but there was a deeper message to the story. Derice, a talented runner is denied a chance to compete in the Summer Olympics when he is tripped by Junior. To fulfill his dreams of Olympic glory, he turns to the Winter Olympics and the sport of bobsledding. While at the Olympics, he discovers that his coach cheated many years earlier so that he would be guaranteed a gold medal. It is at this moment that Derice is forced to decide within himself if he is "enough" without a gold medal. As his coach predicts, he doesn't find out for certain that he is "enough" until he crosses the finish line.And so it is with each of us. Right now, I am running for the office of Mayor of my city. It is a prestigious title, one that is coveted by many people throughout our state right now. I could just as easily be seeking a position of President of a company, a position of Manager of a store, of even Student Body President at a university. The question, however, remains "Am I enough?" Am I enough without being Mayor, President, or Manager? I would argue that if anyone, like the misguided student body president candidate, or the bobsled coach feels that they have to sacrifice their integrity, then they will never be enough. For really, if we sacrifice ourselves to get where we want to be, then all we will be left with is an empty title and an empty title will never make us "enough".
Excellent to think about. For me, part of that is deciding why I'm doing it. Is it for me? Do I want to be more important? If so, that's definitely an empty reason. I heard a great thought a few years ago - "Prepare yourself, share yourself, then give yourself to something bigger than yourself." If I'm doing things to learn and prepare, share myself in service, then really give myself and use the talents I've gained for something bigger to further that instead of my own personal gain, then I definitely feel more on the right track.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't have time to just be more important. :) There are a lot of things more fun than that. But to work for something great, even when it's hard - totally worth it.
Here we are, over 6 months since I wrote this post and almost 3 months since I lost the election. Guess what? I can honestly look at myself in the mirror knowing two things: First, I know that throughout the election process, I never once told a lie about myself or my opponent. Not once. I ran the cleanest campaign ever and I can hold my head high. Secondly, I am not mayor, but I am most certainly enough without it.
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