Several
years ago I transcribed one of the most insightful stories which I’d ever
heard.
The title of
the story was, “The Richest Piece of Ground on Earth.”
If I were to
ask you to name the richest piece of ground on earth you might say, “the goldmines
of South Africa” or “the rain forests of South America” or perhaps “the oil
wells of Saudi Arabia” but if you were to guess one of these locations, you
would be… absolutely wrong. For you see, the richest piece of ground on earth
is your… local cemetery.
And the
reason for this seeming paradox?
Lying
dormant in the bosoms of thousands of the dearly departed are unfulfilled
dreams. A miracle medication which might have cured Alzheimer’s Disease. An
invention which might have caused trees and flowers to bloom on the Sahara. A
missionary endeavor that would have brought millions of unbelievers to a saving
knowledge of the Gospel. Dreams which might have changed the world. But these
dreams will remain unrealized for a million million years.
Interestingly
enough, last night as I was watching the 2017 Academy Awards Ceremony one of my
favorite actresses won the ‘Oscar’ for the movie, “Fences.” As Viola Davis
stepped up on the stage she began to share the most familiar words.
“You know
there’s one place where all of the people with the greatest potential are
gathered. And that’s the… graveyard.”
As I reflect
on my earlier story, and compare Viola’s words I can only surmise,
“Close, but
not the same.”
For you see,
while the local cemetery might well be thought of as “the richest piece of
ground on earth,” for the myriad of dreams which were never realized, in spite
of Ms. Davis’ assurance the dearly departed who lie within it have absolutely
no remaining potential to do anything at all.
Pt. 2
I have often reflected
on one particular scene in the movie, “Dead Poet’s Society;” (a good movie and
an extraordinary scene).
“Mr. Keating,” a
teacher at a private boy’s school, (who seems to have a knack for offering his
students insightful tidbits, while using everyday objects and themes) leads his
boys down the stairs from the classroom, and into the lobby of the institution.
The young
professor walks towards a couple of trophy cases, and instructs his pupils to
gather about him.
“Now
I would like you to step forward over here and peruse some of the faces from
the past. You've walked past them many times. I don't think you've really
looked at them. They're not that different from you, are they? Same haircuts.
Full of hormones, just like you. Invincible, just like you feel. The world is
their oyster. They believe they're destined for great things, just like many of
you. Their eyes are full of hope, just like you.”
Mr.
Keating’s boys are “all ears” by this point in his monologue. They know something of some value is coming.
And
with the assurance of someone wiser than his years, the teacher continues.
“Did
these young men in the photographs wait until it was too late to make from
their lives even one iota of what they were capable? Because you see gentlemen,
these boys are now fertilizing daffodils. But if you listen closely, you can
hear them whisper their legacy to you. Go on, lean in. Listen. Do you hear it?
(whispering in a gruff voice) Carpe. Hear it? (whispering) Carpe.
Carpe Diem.
…Seize
the day boys. Make your lives extraordinary.”
And
I think we have the privilege, opportunity and obligation to do this.
…To
make our own lives extraordinary.
To
discover the best within us. To find out that one thing which separates us from
the rest. To develop that talent, that gift, that interest, which almost begs
for a forum, to a razor’s edge. To, as Mr. Keating admonishes us, make our
lives extraordinary. And I think we have the innate wherewithal to do this.
(Though I think too few tend to do so).
Pt.
3
There
is an illusion in Homer’s “The Iliad and the Odyssey” in which the hero of the
story, Odysseus, the captain of the ship, has himself tied to the mast, while
he instructs the remainder of his crew to pack wax in their ears. For you see,
their ship was scheduled to sail past a particular island populated by
beautiful half-clothed women, men-haters, who sang the most melodious of songs.
And it was on the shores of this island that dozens of ships had crashed upon
the rough-hewn rocks which surrounded it; crew after crew lured to their deaths
by the ethereal songs of the maidens. But due to the foresight of Odysseus, he
is among the first to hear the Siren Song, and live to tell the tale; as the
ship sails harmlessly past the island, and on to their port of call.
And
while the foregoing myth has a rather negative connotation, as a counselor I
have “put a spin” on an old story, and assigned it a more positive meaning. For
as I have so often taught my clients, God also sings a Siren Song. (Yes, He
does). And amazingly,
…He
sings it to you and me!
In
Christian circles we have labeled that song, “God’s Calling.” And I am
convinced that our Lord calls you and me to pursue a goal, to complete a task,
to fulfill a destiny, and to leave a legacy. And I am equally convinced that
the Creator planned our individual destinies
…before
He made the worlds!
For
in Psalms 139:16 we read, “Before I ever took my first breath, you planned
every day of my life” and scripture assures you and me that “My times are in
Your hands.” (Psalms 31:15)
Pt.
4
Granted,
the foregoing information makes good theory until we discover whatever it is
that God has for us to do with our lives. But, I think, the same One who sings
the song is more than capable of lighting the pathway. For He has assured us
that “if with all your heart you will seek the Lord, Your God,
…you
will find Him.” (Jeremiah 29:13)
And
so much like the maidens of Homer’s odyssey, the Master of the Universe humbles
Himself to sing us His song. It is left to us to take time to listen, and to go
about fulfilling whatever plans He has designed for us, as individuals, to
complete.
In
the words of “Mr. Keating,”
“Go
on, lean in. Listen. Do you hear it?
Carpe.
Carpe Diem.
…Seize
the day boys and girls. Make your lives extraordinary.”
No,
my friends, Viola Davis missed the mark when she referred to the dearly
departed who fill up our local cemeteries as those with the greatest potential.
They have long since had the opportunity to complete the destiny which God
dreamed for each of them as individuals; before He made the worlds. What
remains for us to do must be done now.
As long as it is day, we
must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. (John 9:4)
by William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from (Mc)Donald's Daily Diary. Vol. 50. Copyright pending
If you wish to copy, share or 'save' please include the credit line, above
by William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from (Mc)Donald's Daily Diary. Vol. 50. Copyright pending
If you wish to copy, share or 'save' please include the credit line, above
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