I woke up this morning with this thought in my head:

We can only do great things in small ways.

This isn’t the mindset I’ve had over the last few years while working in the for-profit /non-profit world.  Having spent a great deal of time, considering what the world needs and wants: i.e. this country, our city, culture, the 20-30somethings, I think I’ve been looking for the most dramatic way I can make an impact. What has happened though is, I’ve done really small things in a really grand way.  Sad to admit this, but I think I’ve actually been searching for personal greatness while wearing a mask of charity, benevolence or philanthropy.  It would be difficult to look in the mirror and decipher this about oneself, but once we begin to explore our motives in this charity-fevered culture, you might begin to see the same dreaded signs of ego in yourself.  How often are our good works done for our own glory?

It seems like our culture is currently obsessed with personal identity, image and relevancy.  But is what others think about us, more important then what we know about ourselves? Many of us are reaching for greatness in some regard, although why we are isn’t clear.   We’ve all heard Mother Teresa’s quote: “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.” Every great moment that I can recall, has caused my heart to stir because of a common thread of humility in it.  The simple act of forgetting one’s self and answering a need, right in front of you (again and again), builds character.  Character is worth far more than fame.  My heroes didn’t set out to be great, they kept saying yes to the small needs all around them, that’s what made them great.

-JSK

We were asked recently to be a guest blogger on Incentivize, the above blog is what was written. We wanted to make sure we shared it with you all.