No doubt one of my all time favorite nuggets of enduring encouragement was uttered by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his address at the Institute of Non-violence and Social Change in December of 1956\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lives a great street sweeper who did his job well.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n What I like about this is two-fold. It\u2019s also incredibly, currently counter-cultural\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n First, note that the subject of King\u2019s citing is not some other person. It\u2019s about \u201ca man\u201d or by inference, a singular individual \u2014 \u201cme\u201d<\/em>\u2026 what I\u2019m<\/em> called to do\u2026 how I\u2019m<\/em> called to behave\u2026 my<\/em> work ethic\u2026 my<\/em> performance\u2026 what drives and motivates \u201cme.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n So much of current culture invites us to actively compare ourselves to others. Comparison in and of itself is not negative, of course\u2026 when I think of my friend, Marjie, I\u2019m encouraged to be healthier\u2026 when I think of Andrew, I\u2019m moved to read more\u2026 and when I consider Roni, I\u2019m inspired to be more adventurous and accepting of all. Our differences serve not as rationale to feel better or worse about self.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hence, when that comparison becomes a behavioral barometer to the wisdom and success within me \u2014 and therefore, by juxtaposition, the foolishness and failure within another \u2014 then that comparison is negative, divisive, and likely judgmental.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only in a non-<\/em>God-honoring, non-<\/em>humankind-honoring society would a fraction attempt to build itself up by tearing another down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whoever another is.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Such also serves, I believe, in why there\u2019s ample distaste in the mouths of many surrounding the entire 2020 campaign season. All sides have spent arguably more time focused on the faults of another than on the feats of their own. That feels fairly impolitic to me. We crave \u2014 and dare-I-say, deserve \u2014 better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The second aspect I love about King\u2019s quote, no less, is the inherent worth of each individual calling. There is no variance in importance\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re a street sweeper, sweep those streets well! \u2026if you\u2019re a painter, paint away with lavishness, excellence, and joy!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And so today\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re an athlete\u2026 if you\u2019re a teacher\u2026 if you\u2019re a preacher, politician, influencer, or single mom\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Do your job well. Do your job with excellence. Enjoy and appreciate what you\u2019ve been gifted to do in this season and time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Allow me, no less, as a final word, a bit of an empathetic side note here \u2014 a sincere reflection regarding one of the three zillion and some ways the pandemic is affecting us\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n With activity on hold and much of our rhythms and routines completely disrupted, no doubt many have been discouraged by their current callings and what\u2019s actually on our plate \u2014 either that it\u2019s not what we want or it seems so little; we can\u2019t do what we want to do. That\u2019s understandably, really hard. It\u2019s in those moments where I remember my longtime, sagacious friend, Martha, who celebrated awesome birthday #96 last week! Years ago, as her mobility lessened, I will never forget her sweetly sharing with me when I asked if she was discouraged about a lack of physical involvement, \u201cDear, I can always pray.\u201d Martha doesn\u2019t focus on what she can\u2019t<\/em> do; she focuses on what she can. She then does so with fervor, devotion, and excellence.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n So sweep. Paint. Compose or write that poetry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Teach. Preach. Even play basketball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Run for office. Serve in the ER. Be on the front lines with those tireless healthcare workers. Maybe even stay home and pray, praying for the hope, livelihood, and great blessing of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But remember to resist comparison as a behavioral barometer; focus on \u201cmy\u201d calling, \u201cmy\u201d effort, and \u201cmy\u201d behavior. And thus may we be so bold but unpretentiously petition that one day, \u201call the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lives a great street sweeper who did his job well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR No doubt one of my all time favorite nuggets of enduring encouragement was uttered by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his address at the Institute of Non-violence and Social Change in December of 1956\u2026 \u201cIf a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed … <\/p>\n
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