A Monumental Life

"Reliability. It's the bread and butter characteristic
of achievement. It's the shared ingredient behind
retirement pens, Hall of Fame awards, and golden
anniversaries. It is the quality that produces not
momentary heroics but monumental lives."

Max Lucado, God Came Near

A few mornings ago I was privileged to spend an hour with a young lady whom I feel is destined for greatness. Not necessarily in the realm of financial gain, but in her humanitarian efforts. She is a very calm, quiet, soft-spoken person with a heart of compassion and healing in her hands. She just graduated with a degree in nursing, and she will soon begin her first job as a nurse. The area of the hospital in which she will be working is difficult, but in her previous work as a caregiver, she is well-prepared to minister to the emotional needs as well as the physical ones.

Max Lucado, in an excerpt from his book God Came Near, speaks of "monumental lives." Those people who show up each day and get the job done, because they are reliable, trustworthy, and dedicated. Regardless of whether they love, or even like, their jobs or not. They do the best they can do, regardless, and try to present positivity, rather than negativity, in the workplace. Prior to my retirement I served as a case manager. I did not choose this career, I literally fell into the job. I was drafted for a higher position than the one for which I applied, based on my experience. I was so down on myself at the time, but God has always had His hand on my life, and He has strategically placed people in my path who see value in me when all I see are the mistakes. I think that's why the desire of my heart is to help other people, those who, like me, are alone. Those, like me, who have felt devalued, worthless, and hopelessly lost or stuck. Those who cry out to the Lord, who, seemingly, does not hear their pleas! Discouraged, they walk down the darkened path, do what they feel they must do to survive. But I want to see change from this endless spiral into hopelessness for the broken into hope. I dream of a home where the discarded and lonely can find a place to call home. Home means shelter, safety, nourishment, health, and healing. Much more, kindness, acceptance, love - above all love. God does hear our prayers, sees our hearts, and He inspires us and prepares the way for dreams to become realities. All is needed is to take one step, then another, trusting God to lead the way.

I'm blogging again. My daily journals are flowing with things I've encountered on the journey - fresh insight and some revelation. It's been a difficult tug-of-war, but praise and gratitude to my Abba Father keeps my focus on the goal. I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but for Today, my favorite day as Winnie the Pooh puts it, I will walk step-by-step. If I fall, He'll pick me up, dust me off, and I will begin again. I want a monumental life in His service. I choose Jesus!