What greatness is made of

"My dad's just a poor farmer," declared a young boy. "I shall never work in the dirt like him. I'm going to be something important -- like a matador."

How sad the young often see only what's on the outside, I surmised. I asked myself what truly made things important -- what made greatness?

The boy's father was a dirt farmer who had a large family to provide for. Each day he faithfully arose from bed, placed both feet on the floor and forced himself to work in the fields. Day after day, he fulfilled his responsibilities. What he provided wasn't impressive, but it filled the needs of his family.

We often look at what's visible and imposing rather than at what's underneath. Although high positions in life are needed, simpler jobs are no less important than the noteworthy. The orchestra of life requires the expertise of everyone to present the symphony. I played the bass violin in the school orchestra as a youth. Although I performed classical music, with a bow, I felt my instrument was not an important part of the orchestra. It was the melody to which people related, I thought. I humbly felt I assumed a secondary role -- in the background.

I finally voiced my opinion to my orchestra conductor, and being the psychologist he was, he set me at ease with these words: "All instruments are important. Although some play the more obvious main melody; without the complimentary resonance in the background, the music would fail to project the same quality of tones. It would be incomplete without the rich accompaniments of the other stringed instruments and horns."

Although I still felt those playing the melody filled a greater role, my confidence and pride were lifted. I began to enjoy my role in the background, adding richness to our songs. Due to my changed outlook in what I was doing, I actually excelled at playing the bass violin.

No matter how insignificant we feel our position, every job is necessary because nothing stands on its own. Even those in power and high places require the skills and energy of others to accomplish their goals. When the disciples squabbled about who was the greatest, Jesus took a child for comparison and said "Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest," Luke 9:46-48

Just as Mother Teresa of Calcutta bent over thousands of dying people, she made herself nothing in front of them, the poorest of the poor.

One of the paradoxes of Jesus' life is that the typical attitude of Christians is a love leading them to put themselves last, becoming smaller than the other, as a father or mother does when they play with their children, care for them or help with homework. Jesus demonstrated that same love when he washed his disciples' feet (John 13:1-16), teaching them greatness was becoming less so others could become more.

The boy in the story eventually understood that being a matador might seem more exciting, but it was less than it seemed. Rather, shouldering responsibility every day to provide for one's family required more fortitude and courage than being a flamboyant matador.

His father's stature rose dramatically as he recognized the daily and repetitive sacrifice his dad made for his family. Indeed, greatness lies in the giving of oneself for others and doing what it takes, however small, large or difficult, to accomplish it.

Ellen Shuck is director of religious education at St. Mary Cathedral Parish.