From the Pulpit: We all desire greatness

In a surprising way, the 2010 animated motion picture Despicable Me is all about pursuing greatness. Gru, the lovable super villain, wants to be the greatest bad guy of all time. This means he must pull off the greatest heist of all time. Who would argue with the greatness of a criminal mastermind who could steal, wait, wait for it … the MOON! However, Gru finds living a life that is wrapped around his own ego and ambition, to the exclusion of anyone and everyone else, quite unfulfilling. His pursuit of greatness is much like the rest of the world, it’s all about the big “ME”. The big “ME” is not just the logo for the film, it’s the motto of the world. The big “ME” is seeing yourself at the center of the universe. 

If we are being honest, we all desire greatness. No one dreams about being average. Ambition is natural and actually quite healthy. However, it doesn’t take much for those desires to get twisted and take over. Pursuing greatness is not a modern anomaly. The disciples argued about it frequently. One such incident is recorded in chapter 9 of Mark’s Gospel, “They came to Capernaum, and when Jesus was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the road?’ But they kept quiet, because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.” Sitting down, Jesus called the twelve and said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first, must be the very last and the servant of all.’ He then took a little child, whom He placed among them, and taking the child in His arms He said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name, welcomes Me.’” 

It’s interesting that Jesus didn’t rebuke the disciples for wanting greatness, He simply redefined what greatness looks like. Greatness is found in being a servant. True greatness isn’t about making much of yourself, it’s about making much of God by serving others. Jim Collins, in his bestselling business book, Good to Great, surveys the leadership qualities that transformed average companies into great organizations. Do you know what the No. 1 quality of these good to great organizations had? A humble, selfless, level 5 leader. Greatness, according to Collins, was less about “me” and becoming “other focused”. 

According to Jim Collins, being humble and other focused can transform a company from good to great. 2,000 years ago, Jesus demonstrated that serving others is the true mark of greatness. By the end of the movie, Gru becomes a perfect example of this. The same Gru that would use people, and then lose people, starts to find his heart changed as he welcomes these little ones into his life.

Today, as another school year begins, I’d like to join with our entire community to recognize all of our bus drivers, educational assistants, custodians, substitute teachers, administrators, nurses, teachers, coaches, and other professional staff who embody this principle of greatness. Your service to our community and world may never be fully captured or expressed by your contemporaries, but be encouraged, you are living out greatness when you choose to serve and welcome the next generation.