“At the end it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished. It’s about who you’ve lifted up, who you’ve made better. It’s about what you’ve given back.” Denzel Washington
Dear Friends,
How do you measure success? This, of course, is a question that probably has as many answers as there are people. Each person must, ultimately, answer this question for themselves.
Some people would suggest that, quite clearly, success issomething that can be measured primarily by the “tangibles” of money earned, wealth created and accomplishments listed. They find great satisfaction in being able to point to the “bottom line” of an impressive bank account or a list of honors and awards that they havereceived.
Others tend to see it differently—very differently. Take Oseola McCarty, for example. She was 87 years old when she died before the end of the 20th century. Oseola was a maid for various wealthy families in the town ofHattiesburg, Mississippi. She was “old school” in her determination to use a wash board instead of an electric washing machine. It was hard work that earned 50 cents per load. Even so, she was able, each week, to put a little bit of money into a savings account. Oseola didn’t have extravagant taste!
Well, when the day finally came when she retired, she asked her banker just how much money she had in her account. She was shocked to learn that she had $250,000 saved up!
She then was faced with the decision of what to do with that money. It didn’t take her long to determine that she wanted to give a good chunk of it away to someone thatneeded her help. “I can’t carry anything away from here with me,” she said, “so I thought that it was best to give it to some child to get an education.”
The shy, never-married laundry woman gave $150,000 to the nearby University of Southern Mississippi to provide scholarships for students who, otherwise, would not be able to afford a college education. It was a remarkable gift from a remarkable woman. Oseola McCarty was guided in her decision by the thought that, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” “I know,” she told reporters, “I’vetried it.”
When I think about what a successful life looks like, I aminclined to think of the life of Oseola McCarty who chose to use a great deal of her hard-earned money to lift other people up and make their lives better. It was (and still is) an investment that very few others would have made. And yet, it was an investment that we cannot help but celebrate, one that serves to remind all of us just what it means to be successful.
This coming Sunday is the day when everyone is asked tobring your Giving Cards with you to worship. We will be consecrating our gifts (both our financial gifts and ourtime/talent gifts) at the conclusion of our service. I hope that you will plan to attend as we “Choose Our Tomorrow” through the gifts that we offer. I am looking forward to sharing this important time with you. See you in Church!
Grace & Peace,
Ron
Rev. Ron Dunn