WHO IS SIGNIFICANT?

WHO IS SIGNIFICANT?

For most of my professional life, I have operated in dual functions, primarily as a clergyman, but also as a sales representative/manager.  Both arenas have imparted priceless lessons about who and what is of real importance in this journey called life. 

One of my early success-points in sales was the discovery that the janitorial staff of any facility knows more about who’s who and what’s what than almost anyone else.  There’s a broad smile on my face as I reflect on the mission-critical data (and commensurate income) that I derived over decades from interactions with  those INDIVIDUALS WHO MANNED THE MOP.  While many colleagues counted them as insignificant, I greeted them warmly, or brought morning coffee, or remembered them at Christmas time.  In turn, they supplied me with names of key corporate players and invaluable information about their willingness to see sales reps, along with helpful tidbits about their personalities and daily schedules.  Bottom-line: They worked everywhere in the building and knew everyone.

EVERY PERSON HAS SIGNIFICANCE.

Consider this.  During her second month of teaching, a nursing professor gave a pop quiz.  The last question totally stumped most students.  It read, “What is the first name of the woman who cleans our classroom?”

Her students had seen the cleaning lady numerous times.  She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how might any of them know her name?  After the class had ended, one student asked if the last quiz question would count toward their grade.

“Absolutely,” said the professor.  “In your nursing career you will meet many people.  All are significant. They deserve your greatest attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello.”

Her students never forgot that important lesson.   All of them made it a point to meet the woman who they had hardly noticed; and they learned her name, Dorothy.

EVERY PERSON HAS SIGNIFICANCE.

Sir Michael Costa was a great orchestra conductor of the 19th Century.  It is said that one day he was conducting a rehearsal in which his orchestra was joined by a great choir.  Midway through the practice session, the piccolo player stopped playing.  It seemed innocent enough.  After all, who would miss the tiny piccolo amidst the great mass of loud voices and blazing instruments?  Nevertheless, Sir Michael suddenly stopped the entire orchestra and choir.  “Stop!  Stop!  Where’s the piccolo?  What happened to the piccolo?”

EVERY PERSON HAS SIGNIFICANCE.

We may sometimes feel like that piccolo player – that we don’t have very much to offer.  We may be tempted to believe that if we were to stop our small ministry, or our personal words of encouragement, or whatever ‘tiny thing’ we bring to the table, that nothing would be impacted, and no one would notice.  However, THE GREAT CONDUCTOR is intimately aware of the part we play, and His orchestral masterpiece would somehow be incomplete without our seemingly small part.

My friend, stay the course.  YOU are significant to GOD…and YOU are significant to US.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!