Greatness

moments, years, everlasting

I was in Costco today
a young man, his wife and their crying baby
loading their car 
with loose, boxless and bagless groceries
and said child

it was snowing and already icy
the young man had to rescrape the windows
defrost. heat the seats
while his wife knelt on the front seat, backwards
trying to calm the little boy

the empty shopping cart rested in an empty parking space
next to the parked tearful Buick Regal as he began to pull out
noticing the cart, he stopped, reparked and got out of the car
He rolled the shopping vessel at least forty yards to the corral 
where he found ten carts scattered haphazardly 
this motherfucker
this beauty of a man
rearranged every cart and organized them in one neat row

He didn't know I was watching.  I didn't see anyone else
and the Costco parking lot jockey got a little less wet

I saw greatness in this moment.

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our university fired their football coach
the writing was on the wall for almost a whole year
he just didn't fit
and much of the situation was beyond his control
they hired a person everyone was happy about
a good fit
but the first guy never said 'boo'
he never once complained
he didn't defend himself
it seems that he actually helped the new guy behind the scenes
he leaves us knowing he is a good man
not because he said it
because everyone else said it

I saw his greatness without actually seeing it.

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greatness is a 1000 lonely mornings
our habits determine our future
1% inspiration, 99% perspiration
character is what you do when nobody is watching

the most successful people are the ones
who can suspend personal gratification the longest
in their quest to achieve their goals

Van Gough barely sold any paintings 
Tesla died penniless
Kafka's writings were never seen until after his passing
(and against his will, litterally)

Pope Benedict preached this thought often in his life:
"You were not made for comfort, you were made for Greatness."

If you consider the greatness above
a moment, a year, and life everlasting
Greatness becomes something else...

It's not a famous person at all
It's less like Mr. Wonderful
and more like
It's a Wonderful Life

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I woke up this morning to a shoveling noise on the front porch
I have "drop foot" and have been using a walking brace for a year
The recent snow has made me very unhappy due to my inability
to handle my property like a good neighbor, like a good husband

I found an eight year old boy in a blue puffy jacket
He was trying like hell to use his 8-year-old sized shovel
to lift the heavy snow, heavy like frozen milk,
and clear our sidewalks and porch

His name is Charles
I saw greatness in this moment.
I see greatness in his future.
I see greatness in heaven.

We can all find it, when we go looking for it.

I find myself very uncomfortable these days, I viciously question every thing I do. Because of this and the above examples, I am searching for my Greatness. As I have alluded in the past, I often tell you things that I am trying to prove to myself.

I have chosen to direct my energy toward this thought for the holiday season manifested into several comfort/greatness pieces. You can find them at the link below

I am considering reproducing one of these as a poster for the holiday. If you are interested in a $40-50 print, please contact me. I’m not sure there is interest, so your communication may help me make the decision. thanks

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