You’re not that special. One would think it would be bad news. One would think it would not be the kind of thing you’d want to hear from your pastor. In truth, many times when I’ve told someone they were not that special, they were less than thrilled. And yet it is true—we aren’t. We are each a tiny being on a huge planet, in the midst of a huge universe, in the midst of something far more huge than we will ever understand. We are just not that huge. Perhaps Cool King Chris said it best: Yet I maintain—this is AWESOME news!!! Awesome news, because when I think I am that special, I put terrible burdens on myself and always end up disappointed in myself. Awesome news, because when the w
Some years ago, there was a school and office supply store that ran August and September commercials using that Christmas song. The ad showed parents rejoicing that the kids were going back to school, while the kids sulked. Perhaps that ad had it wrong, for returning to learning is truly one of the greatest joys there is—and I’m not just saying this as a parent! We were created to learn. All of creation is created this way, in fact. In my office I have a small plant sitting near my window. It grows continually towards the window’s sunlight. It has learned where the sunlight is. If I turn the plant, it will begin to lean back towards the window, for it knows where to turn. It learns.
