Greatness

There is so much associated with this word. At the top of many lists would be the word “aspirations”. Any healthy-minded person would have a natural desire towards personal greatness and aspire to do big things.

We want to be involved with a great company as we navigate our careers. We hope our family and family members are developing into a great family. We should want to enjoy great marriages and relationships. Most global citizens have a desire to live in one of the great countries of the world, and many flee dysfunction to emigrate to some new land of opportunity.

Greatness is on our minds because of the ever-present contrast between dysfunction and high performance. The possibility of attaining a higher level of experience, which is evidenced within our view of the landscape before us, instinctively tells us that there is a better way—perhaps even the ultimate of experience. 

Therefore, greatness is both observed and experienced. It is attainable, yet elusive. And one thing is for sure – greatness stands out.

We easily observe greatness in athletics, as the elite athlete dominates other world-class competitors. Yet the great athlete who doesn’t display humility can tarnish even the greatness he or she possesses. So greatness has many dimensions. There is greatness, and then there are certain qualities that enhance or detract from what could have been. We have seen great athletes, who are anything but great citizens. One’s wholeness depends on more than one or two attributes. Our legacies won’t be judged by just being a great businessperson, athlete, or public figure. Greatness is a matter of the whole, not just the parts. 

We have all witnessed these nuances that elevate some, yet we often either take them for granted, or fail to consider what makes the one sitting next to us a candidate for greatness. Let’s look at a few examples and see if we agree that when these great ones are at their best, we find ourselves in admiration mode.

Serving, exercising humility, volunteering for charity, all seem to be associated with the elements of greatness in individuals. In global relations, wealthier countries which exercise benevolence abroad enjoy the desired status that comes with what is sometimes called “soft power”. 

Conversely, there are countless ways to detract from one’s potential that are always self-inflicted and tied to our behavior. Selfishness, narcissistic tendencies, arrogance all get in the way of our best legacies. We’ve all witnessed a pastor, politician, public figure, or sports legend that had so many things going for them but was set back by poor behavior.

Politically, we’ve seen leaders of nations bully and insult allies, or at the least impose thoughtless insults which degrade needed relationships. Our humanity gets in the way of greatness on a personal level, as well as on the big stage of our news cycles. 

So, on the one hand, we aspire to be great, to associate with greatness, and be a part of a tribe which we believe is on the right track. On the other hand, our tribe, church, and political parties are run by imperfect people who can and will let us down. In fact, each of us controls the set of metrics whereby we elevate or harm our legacies.

I’ve been watching some whose lives have intersected mine over recent years, and in some cases, many decades. The great ones aren’t perfect, but there are consistent qualities that are present in almost every case. From these special ones that come our way, we can learn and perhaps mimic what we see and hopefully make a difference.

A couple of weekends ago, I was fortunate to be a part of an evening where we honored a mutual friend of many in Redlands, California. A group in town hosted the event called Celebrate Goodness, to say thanks to one man’s contribution to the community.

Examples Of Greatness

Tom Kaney isn’t wealthy per se, but definitely better off than most. He’s able to financially support some charities, is a member at the Country Club, and I’m sure he is trying to calculate how much to give away during his lifetime, enjoy some travel, and the rewards of years of hard work. 

Tom was inspired by his uncle as a youngster who had a very nice wood shop and was a true craftsman. Tom gave up his classic car hobby and turned his three-car garage into a modern wood shop about ten years ago or more. During these years, he has designed, created, and strategically placed his work in the right places to raise funds for a few of his favorite charities. For example, his charcutier boards and repurposed oak barrel staves are second to none. Tom brings them to charity auctions by the dozens and sets them up on display. They are bid on, and lucky winners take them home to put them on display. 

This isn’t just a few cutting boards that Tom makes each year. Tom has raised nearly $500,000 for local charities as he works alone in his wood shop, while the rest of us aren’t even thinking about what we could do to chip in. Tom has cut literally thousands of strips of a variety of wood types. He glues them together. He sands them and puts the right finish on them. His work is beautiful and desirable.

While we are thinking about what charity we may write a check to, Tom jumps in his truck and heads for Central California and picks up old wine barrels. He brings them home, takes them apart, refinishes some pieces and makes some of the most beautiful kitchen display platters we’ve ever seen. I am talking about thousands of hours of work. He buys the wood with his own funds and has never taken one dollar for one of his creations.

However, the charities he has helped have raised nearly a half million dollars for their causes because of Tom’s time in his wood shop. 

To me, this is greatness manifested through one person’s life. Day in and day out, grinding away, with a sense of sacrificial purpose. And what motivates Tom are the sacrifices others have made in their respective charitable work. Tom signs up because others in town are serving in other ways.

Heidi runs the YouthHope Foundation which she started many years ago. It is a labor of love helping kids get off the streets, giving them a place to go after school, and helping them look ahead to a brighter future. Heidi’s group is aptly named. She provides hope for the hopeless. Many of her kids have experienced such hardship they can’t talk about where they came from even many years later. But they will talk about Heidi’s influence on their lives. 

Heidi and her organization live month to month, without any financial surplus. It was a special night recently when Tom was honored, and the organizers decided to allow folks to donate to a couple of local charities, or let Tom place the funds where he thought they would best be used. We raised over $110,000 that night for the Optimist Club in Redlands, YouthHope, Family Service Association of Redlands, Redlands Community Hospital, and a few other Redlands, CA charitable organizations. 

We can honor greatness when it remains unblemished. When motives are pure and humility is present, greatness is a light that shines brightly and inspires.

True Greatness

As I thought about serving and volunteerism, I was reminded that our American heritage is saturated in good deeds that pay it forward for future generations. Our founders came here for a better way of life. To be a part of something that was founded on liberty, and at the core, was the separation from the monarchical government they left behind in England. Our US Constitution states, “We the People…for the general welfare of the people.” And this issue really is at the heart of this subject.

True greatness is tied to behavior, and the best behavior is involved with “breaking the cycle”.

This is why, for example, the NFL honors the standout player of the year each year on two counts – One for on the field ability, and the other for “Outstanding Community Service.” Community service and volunteerism often break the cycle of dysfunction. At the root of every great cause, we will find those who are bent on making a difference in the lives of those experiencing pain and dysfunction. 

Whether it was when America jumped in to help stop Hitler, or a foster parent raises their hand and says I can help, a positive change takes place when the cycle is broken. This is where we find greatness. Greatness comes at a cost and follows the convictions of those who see a need and move into action. Tom and Heidi are just two examples. 

You see, America was built on a bottom-up framework where the people, not the government, promote the “Blessings of Liberty” and confer these on each other. We are to be concerned about our brothers and sisters, and those less fortunate. These are Biblical concepts, and our Founding Fathers directed also us to take care of each other. Greatness was woven into the very document that is the bedrock of our democracy two and a half centuries later.  

• Greatness focuses on others.
• Greatness deflects undue praise and attention.
• Greatness must possess an element of humility where legacy is concerned.
• Greatness is tied to ability, action, and results, yet is complete only when the whole person or brand is considered in defining it. 
• Greatness is often manifested when a negative cycle is broken.

In modern sports history, think Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, and Jerry West, as opposed to others who took credit away from teammates as they celebrated an accomplishment. In politics, there are only two standouts when we consider accomplishment and humility coupled tightly together—George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Both accomplished the unimaginable, and both distanced themselves from any adulation.

It wouldn’t make sense to itemize either sports heroes or politicians who thought more highly of themselves than they ought. The list is long. The accomplishments may be significant, but the person’s lack of wholeness has tarnished the honor.

I’m motivated by those in my community that just keep on putting one foot in front of the other as they serve. As they pour into their community, they inspire us to also give. The one who helps get kids off the street, or that wealthy person who has learned the gift of giving, all motivate me to do what I can. And especially those who give out of their lack—where the proportional sacrifice is greatest. There were many of these generous ones that recent evening in Redlands, California. These folks have modeled greatness as they go about thinking beyond themselves and motivate others to do the same. We really inspire and thrive on each other’s good will.

As I mentioned early on here, we all have natural tendencies to aspire to greatness. We can lose those aspirations, or perhaps not even consider that we could make a difference. But when I look at these whose daily routine lifts and motivates others in a community sense, this is greatness to me. I can aspire to this call of service. And in service, there is greatness. I am desirous of the cycle of selfishness in my own life, to be constantly broken. Sounds noble, but it takes work.

Thanks to these who inspire me. I appreciate it!