Let’s start with a quiz:
- Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
- Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
- Name five people were awarded the Nobel Peace prize.
- Name the last five Academy Award winners for best-supporting actor.
- Name the last decade’s worth of baseball World Series winners.
How did you do? The point is that we quickly forget the newsmakers and headliners of yesterday—and these people are not second-rate achievers! They are the best in their respective fields. But the applause dies quickly, awards tarnish, and achievements are forgotten.
Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:
- List a few teachers who guided your journey through school.
- Name a friend who helped you through a difficult time.
- Name three people who have taught you something worthwhile.
- Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated.
- Think of the people you enjoy spending time with.
That one was easier, wasn’t it? The message is obvious: The people who make a difference in YOUR life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones who care; those who make life meaningful. If this terrible pandemic has taught us anything, it is the lesson of what’s most important in life: connection with family, friends, and neighbors.
In the Christian tradition, we have entered into the season of Advent. The word “Advent” comes the Latin word adventus (which means ‘coming’ or ‘arrival’) and is a time for the faithful to prepare for the Christmas celebration of the birth of Jesus. While our modern American Christmas is mostly focused on consumption, the heart of Christmas is the story of humility. It witnesses to a God who becomes human, just like us. And not just human, but a vulnerable infant born into a poor family far from the halls of power and influence.
Of course, Jesus also had people who made a difference in his life—a family who fed and raised him, friends who he cared for, people with who he enjoyed spending time. In other words, God too experiences and delights in the connections of family, friends, and community. For me, that is what a community of faith is all about.
For many people, it can be difficult to find joy and hope this time of year. But one action we can take is to give thanks for the people in our lives who have (and still do) made an important difference in our lives. So, take a look at that second list of questions above and, if possible, reach out to someone who has made a difference in your life.
(Image by Deborah Hudson from Pixabay)