Bigger than Me

Have you ever had one of those days that makes it? A day where the fruits of your labor are sweeter than you ever could have imagined? A day where you realize that in spite of your sometimes skeptic attitude or dark and twisty outlook the sun is out and the birds are chirping? A day where your vantage point is so distinctively clear that you can see that the world is actually so much more than you had ever hoped? A day where you truly see that you are a part of something which will effect generations far into the future? A day where you can look back at the past efforts and see where your mark has been left? Said days are a treasure and I have been fortunate enough to have had a few of them as of late.

Spending an afternoon on the water's edge discussing, in even-tones to my own chagrin, the past bit of life and the lives that were involved during that time was a rare and difficult task. Prior to that walk I knew the end to this particular story ~ that it had an end. But it was not until I was sitting in his shadow that I felt the finality of it all. We discussed how each had brought something real to the table, something unknown to the other. We discussed the need for that something and the need to let go of it. And then, as the silence became an active participant in the conversation, I was blessed with the moment of clarity. The moment brought back the realization that this was for the better, that happiness would come a bit easier each day individually, and that this was just a building block to something bigger ... something so much bigger.

As we sat in SLC, a reprieve from the celebrations, at Hatch's Family Chocolate (side note ~ Just stop what you are doing if you find yourself in the 8410…area and get yourself a MILK HOT CHOCOLATE. It will change your mood, level out the chemical imbalance, clear your vision, enhance euphoric feelings … it’s amazing), he began talking about the life I was a part of. With each name he mentioned it was as if a part of my heart awoke that had been sleeping since I left the place where everyone truly did know my name. As we recalled moments of trial, moments of laughter, moments of growth, moments of miracles, I was again blessed with that moment of clarity. Here was a man who I had been favored to know for a brief (albeit longer than expected) period of time. He stood tall, confident, and within his eyes was that excitement sparked by his solid knowledge of the truth. I did not do this to him, he walked the path himself. And as the conversation grew I realized he too will have moments where he realizes that this sight we have is so narrow and will be blessed with a view to help him see how big this all truly is. To be a part of a change of self, heart and mind ... to watch that happen ... to know the distance that has been traveled and the battles that had to be fought ... to see that there is so much more going on at every moment to effect our lives ... it's just so much bigger than ever expected.

And of course there was this moment yesterday, "People will judge you based on what you build, not what you destroy...For everywhere we look, there is work to be done...(T)he Spirit of Service--it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all...America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."



To hear him speak these words, to know that he truly is the Man for the Job, to know that I play even the tiniest part in all of it ... it's so much bigger than me and all of my words, so much bigger than just the opportunities that will be allotted to my children or even their children. This is active history, certainly because of his race, but more importantly because of the vision he has been endowed with and that he shares with us all. So to you, the man I will respect and honor as my President, I say thank you. You understand this this is bigger than you, you have called upon wise men and women to help you within the wall of Washington. But more importantly you have called on the American People to see what you see and rise to the challenge of creating something far better than our own limited hopes. You have called upon us to build, to be active in the cause. You have called upon us to see that this is bigger than just me, the individual. But you remind me that I, as little as I am, can have a long and reaching effect on this, on all of this, if I will build proactively.

I like when things are bigger than me.