Comments on: significance

By: New Look, Same Me | Serenity Now

New Look, Same Me | Serenity Now — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:59:53 +0000

[...] I really love the Anne books, and I get all philosophical about life over breakfast cereal and pancakes. Really, every time I write I wonder if that’s the last thing I’ll ever have to say. [...]

By: Serenity

Serenity — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:19:25 +0000

Thanks Alyssa! I love what you’ve said here. I agree there’s a lot to be said for a simple life. Especially if it’s filled with love (given and received). At times it’s even lovely to be able to find a place of quiet but happy anonymity. Brad and Angelina, for instance, can never have that.

By: Alyssa

Alyssa — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:16:35 +0000

Hi Serenity!
I don’t normally read, but when I do, you inspire me. I struggle with the same quesiton all the time. I’ve given up on becoming a figure in history books. To be honest, I think all of the effort that it takes to become famous would probably end up draining the energy and time out of you. I think that the trade-off is probably losing time with family and loved ones–and, well, basically missing out on LIFE in general. Only recently have I discovered how fast life really does “pass by,” and in my small perspective I think a simple life is way underrated. I’m sure just by being honest and open, you’ve left a mark on so many lives, and to those people you have been more influential than all the moviestars in hollywood.

I can relate to the girl’s desire to leave. But life doesn’t get better by going away–once you leave you realize you’re still the same person, no more glamorous than before, the only difference is that you now miss all of the things in your life that you left behind.

Oh, and I know those pancakes givers. I was part of that organization during my years at Truman, but unfortunatly only helped pass out pancakes for a half an hour one year. It’s the Baptist Student Union. The BSU actually owns that huge building behind little white house on the corner, as well as the little white house itself.

By: Julie Boyles

Julie Boyles — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 22:56:13 +0000

This is such a wonderful post, and is really something I’m going to be chewing on for a while. Such lovely comments also. When Molly said: “I think it is possible to be both anonymous (except to God, obviously) and deeply significant.” That hit me in the heart. That’s exactly what I would like to be. I’ve always enjoyed the behind the scenes involvement in any project much more than being the leader. I’m comfortable being the front person when called to be, but if I had my druthers, I would be the workhorse in the background that can be counted on to get the job done without all the fanfare.

Anonymous and Deeply Significant…. I’ve written them on a post it note to see everyday. Thank you for that!

By: Katie @ cakes, tea and dreams

Katie @ cakes, tea and dreams — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:26:59 +0000

I’m wondering about that Kathleen Kelly quote, too – I just watched that movie last week. And the line about never bothering to try – wow. That gets me right in the heart. I wonder what big things I’ve missed so far because I haven’t tried?

Thanks for the thoughtful post, Serenity. I’ll be mulling this one over for a while.

By: Erin @ Fierce Beagle

Erin @ Fierce Beagle — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:07:41 +0000

And now you’re quoting Kathleen Kelly. I think we’re meant to be friends.

By: Serenity

Serenity — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:06:27 +0000

Yea, I definitely think we sometimes confuse anonymity with insignificance. But I think sometimes we also confuse anonymity with piety. For me, for years now, I’ve been dealing with the concern that – as Kathleen Kelly put it – I lead a small life because I haven’t been brave. And it’s not so much that God hasn’t asked me to do a big thing but that I never bothered to try. This is where I’m coming from when I think about this quote. In the end, I kind of wonder if neither fear is exactly admirable. They just are.

By: Carol York

Carol York — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:50:25 +0000

Everytime I think about this topic, (and I keep coming back to it like some of you have mentioned) I think of the phrase “Don’t thank me, thank God for sending me.” You can insert one of several words for sending; creating, making, putting (me) in the right spot, etc.

I think the anonymous part comes from making sure the glory goes to God and not to ourselves. The miracles that God allowed Moses to perform weren’t so that the people would worship Moses or even to make him famous amoung the people. It was so God could reveal His power through Moses. God just wants to use us, and when we try to put restrictions on how we “let” that happen, I think we’re bucking against the will of God. And I’m as guilty of this as anyone.

By: Molly

Molly — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:55:15 +0000

Do you think we sometimes confuse anonymity with insignificance?

I think it is possible to be both anonymous (except to God, obviously) and deeply significant.

By: Tracy

Tracy — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:58:43 +0000

Back in the day, I wondered if it was a bad thing that the most popular prophetic words were the ones that would tell you how important you were going to be in the Kingdom. “Grab that passport”, “You will be preaching to not thousands, but millions”… etc. It all seemed to glorify the receiver of the word more than God. Certainly some of the people standing there just had a desire to serve God with all of their hearts. But then again, maybe some just wanted to be significant. Maybe if you realize it all falls apart outside of God, you can rest assured your priorities are straight. OR… maybe the people whose names we know the best are people who never cared whether they were known or not. Maybe when you are really in sync with what God has for you to do, you become known without even trying.