The Journey 239: Making significant contributions but living insignificant lives
Read: Acts 9:26,27
I remember a funny incident that happened in one of the youth retreats in India. The inaugural session was going on. As the photo session about the inauguration was being taken, I realized that there were only a few youths sitting in the congregation, while all the rest had rushed to the dais, so that their photo could also be taken. The rush and demand to be on the spotlight. But there are few others who consciously chose to live life beyond the spot light. One such person was Neil Armstrong, the one who said “One small step for man, a giant leap for mankind”, as he set his foot on moon, thus creating history of becoming the first man to walk on the surface of the moon. But on Saturday, the world came to the know the news that Neil Armstrong is also no more. He died at the age of 82. Now both Neil and his space odyssey to the moon is historic. But as you read the news about Neil Armstrong, there are few things that will surprise us. A man who created history and the world was under his feet, yet he consciously choose to live his life from the glamour and fame of the world. After his historic journey to the moon he was offered lucrative position in many business houses, many high level academic postings, but Neil declined all these offers. Instead he came to University of Cincinnati to teach aeronautical engineering. He was a person who loved aviation and had dedicated his life for ministry of space research and aviation. A man who consciously kept himself away from the limelight. On the contrary his co pilot Aldrin also known as Buzz Aldrin did not keep a low profile. He associated himself with some famous programmes like the Dancing with Stars and also having a stint in films like Transformers 3. Thus the life of both these people who made history remain in such a contrast. Since Neil Armstrong kept his life on a low profile, when he died many of the news agencies also seemed to have nothing new about Neil, but only some old clippings that was there in the file. One may be astonished as to why a person who could have easily have the world in his feet consciously chose to move away from limelight. There may be hosts of reasons, but I believe he represents those individuals in the world today, who make significant contributions to the world, but yet chose to live very insignificant lives. Something very hard for people to do today and I believe this is the model that we as believers need to adopt today. Transformed Living is the them for our devotion and the bible portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Acts 9:26,27, and Acts 11: 22,23. These portion mentions of Apostle Barnabas. Here is an apostle who plays a second fiddle to Paul in his missionary journey. But it was Barnabas who stood by Paul after his conversion during his Damascus journey, even when the other disciples were not keen on believing the transformation story of Paul. Later we find the church in Jerusalem asking Barnabas to go to Antioch to encourage the new converts there. Here is an apostle who is there to do some of the most significant roles in the history of the church, but yet remaining away from the spotlight. I believe in history it is people like Barnabas who have made such invaluable contribution not only in the history of church but also becoming a model to all the believers, on how to mould his life as fame and glory comes along his way. In a world where people are concerned about the external appearances and the photo shoot that people give, Christ call us all to a life style where our contributions to the welfare of humanity is more important than the individual and the personality of the person who contributes. Just like Neil Armstrong and Barnabas let us make significant contribution in history, but making an effort to live insignificant lives in the eyes of the world.
Rev. Dr. Joe Joseph Kuruvilla
I remember a funny incident that happened in one of the youth retreats in India. The inaugural session was going on. As the photo session about the inauguration was being taken, I realized that there were only a few youths sitting in the congregation, while all the rest had rushed to the dais, so that their photo could also be taken. The rush and demand to be on the spotlight. But there are few others who consciously chose to live life beyond the spot light. One such person was Neil Armstrong, the one who said “One small step for man, a giant leap for mankind”, as he set his foot on moon, thus creating history of becoming the first man to walk on the surface of the moon. But on Saturday, the world came to the know the news that Neil Armstrong is also no more. He died at the age of 82. Now both Neil and his space odyssey to the moon is historic. But as you read the news about Neil Armstrong, there are few things that will surprise us. A man who created history and the world was under his feet, yet he consciously choose to live his life from the glamour and fame of the world. After his historic journey to the moon he was offered lucrative position in many business houses, many high level academic postings, but Neil declined all these offers. Instead he came to University of Cincinnati to teach aeronautical engineering. He was a person who loved aviation and had dedicated his life for ministry of space research and aviation. A man who consciously kept himself away from the limelight. On the contrary his co pilot Aldrin also known as Buzz Aldrin did not keep a low profile. He associated himself with some famous programmes like the Dancing with Stars and also having a stint in films like Transformers 3. Thus the life of both these people who made history remain in such a contrast. Since Neil Armstrong kept his life on a low profile, when he died many of the news agencies also seemed to have nothing new about Neil, but only some old clippings that was there in the file. One may be astonished as to why a person who could have easily have the world in his feet consciously chose to move away from limelight. There may be hosts of reasons, but I believe he represents those individuals in the world today, who make significant contributions to the world, but yet chose to live very insignificant lives. Something very hard for people to do today and I believe this is the model that we as believers need to adopt today. Transformed Living is the them for our devotion and the bible portion that we shall use for our meditation is from Acts 9:26,27, and Acts 11: 22,23. These portion mentions of Apostle Barnabas. Here is an apostle who plays a second fiddle to Paul in his missionary journey. But it was Barnabas who stood by Paul after his conversion during his Damascus journey, even when the other disciples were not keen on believing the transformation story of Paul. Later we find the church in Jerusalem asking Barnabas to go to Antioch to encourage the new converts there. Here is an apostle who is there to do some of the most significant roles in the history of the church, but yet remaining away from the spotlight. I believe in history it is people like Barnabas who have made such invaluable contribution not only in the history of church but also becoming a model to all the believers, on how to mould his life as fame and glory comes along his way. In a world where people are concerned about the external appearances and the photo shoot that people give, Christ call us all to a life style where our contributions to the welfare of humanity is more important than the individual and the personality of the person who contributes. Just like Neil Armstrong and Barnabas let us make significant contribution in history, but making an effort to live insignificant lives in the eyes of the world.
Rev. Dr. Joe Joseph Kuruvilla