Some years ago my friend Duane Cross and I were in the Chicago area attending a preaching/speaking conference at Willow Creek Church. Before going to O’Hare to catch our plane, we spent several hours at the Chicago Art Institute.

If someone gave me a ticket to anywhere in the country to spend a day in solitude, I’d be walking up the steps of the Chicago Art Institute. I get misty just thinking about the big lion statues that guard the front doors. Even though I can’t draw a straight line if you spot me a ruler, the Art Institute is a magical place for me. Home to some of the world’s most famous masterpieces, it is at once a place of awe, romance, inspiration and reverence. It’s impossible for me to be in the presence of such exquisite art and not worship God.

The Art Institute has an extensive Monet collection. As Duane and I stared at one of his genius examples of Impressionism, Duane said, “Check this out”, and pointed to the signature on the lower right corner of the canvas. It read simply,

Monet 77

Duane astutely observed, “Just “Monet 77″. Not “1877″. Because for Monet, what other “77″ would there be?”

However self-aware Monet was of his God-given talent to paint, I doubt he could have imagined that this canvas he signed off on would be hanging in a world famous American gallery being admired by thousands of people some 130 years later.

It’s 2011. Whatever you and I sign off on today, literally and figuratively, ends in “11″. Unless you’re born this year and possess some stellar genes, it’s highly probable that this “11″ is the only “11″ you’re ever going to know.

Which brings us back to the question. What are you signing your name to today?

Are you signing your name and “11″ to acts of service and generosity? As you walk through the parking lot at Sam’s Club are you looking for the elderly lady who could use a hand lifting the 20-pound box of Tide into her trunk? Are you stopping to buy Girl Scout cookies from the red haired, freckle faced cutie in the Brownie vest because it will make her day and if you’re going to overpay it may as well be for Thin Mints?

Are you signing your name and “11″ to working with integrity in your job? Are you standing up for a co-worker who’s being gossipped about in the break room? Are you refusing to engage in office politics, choosing instead to focus on being your best in the position you occupy?

Are you signing your name and “11″ to being an amazing spouse in your marriage? Are you loving your wife unconditionally and working hard to speak her love language? Are you respecting your husband unconditionally and working hard to speak his love language?

Are you signing your name and “11″ to being a good parent? Are you looking as hard for what your kids do right as what they may be doing wrong? Are you building them up with words of encouragement and praise? Are you taking time to tell them stories about their heritage and where they come from that they may develop a sense of place and belonging?

Are you signing your name and “11″ to being honest with God? Can you summon the courage to dump the trappings of church and religion and ask God for genuine relationship with Him? Can you release your grip on who you think you are so God can show you who He designed you to be?

What kind of brush strokes are you laying down on the canvas of your life today?

If we are signing our name and “11″ to a life of living for and loving others, then the canvas of our life will be viewed and remembered long after we’re gone. Because a life lived for others leaves a legacy that points people back to God.

Monet couldn’t have imagined his canvas being honored and appreciated 130 years later. He just applied the paint with the talent God gave him and signed off on it. Which is another way of saying that if we focus on painting a beautiful life of loving others and loving God, our legacy will take care of itself.

Todd A. Thompson “11″ – ASliceOfLifeToGo.com

]]> http://www.asliceoflifetogo.com/2011/02/16/monet-77/feed/ 0 http://www.asliceoflifetogo.com/2006/02/16/preparation/ http://www.asliceoflifetogo.com/2006/02/16/preparation/#comments Thu, 16 Feb 2006 21:39:22 +0000 Administrator http://www.asliceoflifetogo.com/2006/02/16/preparation/ Most people have likely never heard of my college alma mater, a small Christian liberal arts school in Orange City, Iowa. But since Deb Remmerde went on the CBS Morning Show last Monday a lot more of the country knows about Northwestern College.
 
Deb is a sophomore All-American basketball player for the Lady Raiders. She got the sports world’s attention this season by accomplishing something no one has ever done in the history of competitive basketball at any level. From the NBA down to college, down to high school; men or women, boys or girls. Over a 23 game stretch, she made 133 straight free throws. 133 free throws without a miss.
 
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/13/earlyshow/leisure/main1310741.shtml
 
The CBS Early Show thought it would be a good story to have her shoot free throws during their program to see how many she could make. They checked in periodically so their TV audience could watch her shoot. I remember thinking, “Wow. A national TV audience is a lot of pressure. I wonder how she will do?”
 
Silly thought.
 
At one point she drained 256 in a row.
 
256 free throws in a row without a miss is very impressive. But in practice she once made 485 in a row.
 
During the two hour broadcast, Deb attempted 585 free throws. She made 580 of them.
 
99.15%
 
For the record, I couldn’t achieve a percentage that high if the goal was to hit the floor by falling out of bed.
 
580 out of 585. Amazing.
 
Or is it?
 
Deb says she’s been playing organized basketball since the 4th grade. Over the years she’s worked very hard to become the best basketball player she can be. To ask her, she probably wouldn’t say 256 in a row is amazing. “I don’t think there’s a secret. It’s just kind of having a routine that works, and just having a lot of repetitions at it and just practicing.”
 
In her lifetime, Deb has shot tens of thousands of free throws. For her, hearing the swish of the net is the natural outcome of hard work and good form, repeated thousands and thousands of times.
 
It’s been said that luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Deb’s performance on Monday is proof of that.
 
Whether it’s presenting a winning sales proposal, preaching a thought provoking sermon, putting paint to canvas, delivering outstanding customer service, teaching a lesson that accomplishes it’s objectives, or repairing an engine to its full efficiency, we are successful when we have consistently prepared for our opportunity.
 
Making 256 free throws in a row isn’t luck. It’s the predictable outcome of years of preparation. In that light, on Monday the only difference for Deb was that she was doing her shooting in a gym on national television instead of in the barn on her family’s farm. When you’re consistently prepared, it doesn’t matter what floor the free throw line is on.
 
Wherever God has you this week, be excellent in your preparation.
 

“Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.” – Proverbs 22:29 

Ever since high school I had a sense that seminary would be in my future. After graduating from college I realized it wouldn’t be wise for me to go straight to graduate school. My head knowledge needed to be balanced with heart knowledge. Simply put, I needed more life experience. So I purposely chose to become a life insurance agent with Northwestern Mutual Life, “The Quiet Company”. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Hands down, those nine years were the best training and preparation for ministry. The experience taught me people skills, especially the importance of listening for meaning. I learned countless lessons about communication; written, verbal, and non-verbal. I further developed my already established Iowa farm boy work ethic. And working straight commission taught me a lot about living by faith.

My first General Agent was Whitey Thompson (no relation). Whitey was the quintessential old school life insurance man, in the very best sense of the word. Sharply dressed, always smiling, always enthusiastic, and always made you feel important. He genuinely cared about his clients and the agents who worked with and for him. Even after attaining his General Agent position, he led by example in his work ethic. One day I had a 7 AM breakfast meeting with a client that lived 90 minutes away. Arriving at my destination I was feeling proud about how early I’d left and what a great jump I had on the day. Slowing for the first stoplight in town I pulled up behind a gray Cadillac with plates that read “NML 1″. Whitey had driven even further for his 7 AM appointment.

Of all the lessons learned from Whitey, and there were many, the one I think about most is one he didn’t teach at a sales meeting.

Whitey had an agency support staff of four or five people. This particular day was the first day on the job for a new secretary. Whitey had been in conference all morning with an established client, working out the details on a large case. Their meeting had gone for several hours when he buzzed the desk and asked the new secretary to come in. Whitey introduced her to his client and then politely asked if she would bring them some coffee as they continued their work.

The new secretary informed Whitey and his client that she was a highly skilled secretary and bringing coffee to people was not in her job description. In no uncertain terms, she made sure they knew that bringing coffee was beneath her. Whitey graciously said, “No problem” and walked downstairs to get the coffee himself. Her point made, the new secretary returned to her desk.

The office manager said, “I wouldn’t get too comfortable if I were you.”

“Why not?”

“Who do you think makes the coffee?”

Whitey was always the first to arrive at the office. Usually around 5 AM. And Whitey always made the coffee. That way it was ready and waiting for everyone else.

Jesus said if we would aspire to greatness, we must learn how to serve. That sounds backwards. Jesus said a lot of backward things. Give to get. Die to live. And this curious idea that to be truly great we must humbly serve. And serving others isn’t just a means to an end. We don’t stop when we reach the top. In fact, it’s when we attain our degrees and our titles and our positions and our wealth that we need to serve even more. Whitey was the boss. And the boss made the coffee. Why? Because good leaders understand that little things matter. As someone has wisely said, “If you’re too big to do little things for God, then you’re too little to do big things for God.”

Oh, the new secretary? Her first lunch break was a long one. She probably picked up a newspaper when she stopped for a sandwich. That’s what most people do when they’re looking for a new job. That’s another thing Jesus said. Something about “those who exalt themselves will be humbled.” But that’s a column for another time.

Go make some coffee.

“Whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man (Jesus) did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:26-28

Swea City’s a small place. About 700 people, provided everyone’s home. “I’ve been there. In fact, my aunt used to live there.” I ask her aunt’s name. “Gladys Hanson.” I tell the lady that Gladys was a member of my church for as long as I can remember and one of my Grandparents’ closest friends.

I’m at an outdoor art festival in Scottsdale, Arizona. I strike up a conversation with a young couple who say they are from Seattle. It rains a lot there but it doesn’t snow like it does in the place they grew up. “Where is that?”, I ask.

“Iowa. The Sioux City area. Actually, a small town called LeMars.” LeMars.

“Did you go to LeMars Central High School?” They did.

“Do you know Glendon Peterson?” They said he was their favorite teacher.

“Glendon is my uncle.”

I’m at my day job in Phoenix, Arizona, on the phone with a lady in Bismark, North Dakota. Reviewing paperwork she has faxed me, I notice that she’s written for a couple magazines that I’m familiar with. “I go to a writer’s conference every year in Glorieta, New Mexico”, she says. I ask if she attended this past fall. She was there. “Then you’ve seen me. Remember the band who did the music for the conference? I was the guy playing percussion.”

Of everything I learned in my undergraduate major of psychology, one study has always intrigued me. A group of researchers got together to test the “small world” theory. They gathered phone books from all over the country. Opening one at random they would blindly point to a name. “John Jones in Tampa, Florida.” Then they would open another phone book and randomly select another person. “Marie Morrison in Holbrook, Arizona”. They would send a letter to Marie Morrison with John Jones’ name and address and these instructions: “Don’t send this letter directly to John Jones. Just send it to any person you know and have them send it to any person they know until someone says, “Hey, I know John Jones!” They repeated this experiment hundreds of times.

Guess how many times, on average, the letter had to be mailed before someone knew “John Jones”?

Five times.

Only five times before someone said, “Hey, I know that person!” It really is a small world.

When we go beyond the immediate fascination that only five or six degrees separate us from every person on the planet, we see the incredible impact we can have on our world. Even if we live our entire life in one place. As far as I know, Gladys Hanson never left our small town. Yet years later and 1,500 miles removed I was able to tell her niece of her godly example and treasured friendship to my Grandparents. My Uncle Glendon spent his entire teaching career at one school. His passion for excellence in the classroom is an unforgettable example to his students who now live all over the country. I doubt he would ever have thought he’d be the topic of discussion between two strangers at an art festival in Scottsdale.

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He talks about the positive influence we can have on those around us. He likens us to a lamp that is put on a stand so it gives light to everyone in the house. Jesus goes on to say, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) A lamp doesn’t run about trying to illuminate the entire world. It stays in one place and lights up the room it’s in.

What you do makes a difference. Your influence extends far beyond your awareness. You may live and die within 100 miles of your birthplace, yet you’re still only five people removed from everyone else on the planet. In that light, there’s really no need to be famous. We need only be faithful.

When we’re faithful to be kind, when we’re faithful to do our best with the talents and abilities God has given us, when we’re faithful to be who we are where we live; the ripples of our life well-lived will roll across the ocean of humanity. Guaranteed.

Because it only takes five postage stamps before someone says, “Hey, I know you!”

It really is a small world. In your corner of it, be faithful to make a difference. You just might be the topic of conversation for two strangers waiting for their Jamba Juice.