GENDADS

Just can’t help my self.  Now, THAT is significant.

The response to tracking the difference between “success” (every solid American’s standard of worth) and “significance” (those imprints that are found deep in the hearts and lives of others and cascade to ongoing generations) has been instructive.  AND it has reinvigorated my own journey.  It is always open to tweeking. 

Navy LT “JV” teaching sailors in a church basement.  Can you tell it’s an old picture?  Any thing significant?  You’ll see.

“Significance” is now my mantra, will probably be so until some concept more engaging comes along.  Matt (co-author and soninlaw) offered “worship” as the cornerstone upon which significance is built.  Ok, but not the “act of worship.”  It’s a life focus of worship of the Lord God, the One to whom all signficance will be address and Who will judge it in the end.  How’s your life of worship coming?  Significant?

But let me offer one more piece.  It came from a senior Navy chaplain to the Marines, a friend who knows his way around the church, the military and real combat, and the family.  Ollis Mozon simply quoted a Chief of Chaplains.  It stuck with him, now it sticks with me. 

Read on slowly and take in these simple wise words.
Here, I’ll simple let Chaplain Mozon entry in the comment section lay it out:
“Chaplain Barry Black, former Chief of Navy Chaplains, once said, “Success without a successor is failure.” I suspect, in his scholarly manner, he was quoting someone else. The point being that the significance of success is found in having someone to carry it on to the next level, or next generation. Success means to accomplish a task. Success means to complete the mission; accomplish the objectives; get the job done; fulfill the calling. Success means to have all the stuff gathered and assembled properly. Significance means that the values and principles you exhibited as you achieved success inspired someone to accomplish similar success in a manner like you exhibited. Significance lies in a person that can embody and continue your success. There is significance when the community can continue to benefit and share in your contribution beyond your physical presence. The meaning and purpose of your success is celebrated in one you have touched. Your successor will continue to make successful contributions to the community in his/her own distinctive way, but your influence will be evident. That is significance.

Ending with a question, as always.  So, who’s following you?  Are you worthy? Seriously, no false humility here.  Are you walking worthy of the Lord?  In project, community presence (include family, church, neighbors, workplace)…in LIFE, do you have a SUCCESSOR…are you significant?

Here’s Dr. JV, the sea dog turned chaplain, then church planter, leader, scholar in unreached Sweden 4o years later.  If nothing else signifies signficance between the “successful” old man and the successor, the old man has enough hair to loan to Dr. Baldy.