Small is Big

I just returned back to Switzerland, from an amazing week in America. I had the joy of meeting my little godson—what a cutie! Time was spent with family and friends and just soaking in the American spirit, which I miss/appreciate so much. I met with one of my college roommates at the most adorable coffee shop in River North one evening. We simply caught up on life, jobs, family, friends so on and so forth. It was delightful.

As our evening was drawing towards an end, we started to talk about what we would like to do, where we would like to be, our dream jobs, and what the future may hold. We both admitted we are not in our ideal career field at the moment, but then questioned what does that even matter?

Of course, we do not want to wake up each day and go to a 9 to 5 that we hate, but we also do not want to get so consumed by our career that we forget to live a life outside of it. My girlfriend went on to explain about some of the most influential people in her life. It did not come as a surprise to me that she said her grandparents. Her grandmother was a secretary and grandfather, an electrician. Both didn’t do anything crazy with their careers or save anyone’s life, but they made a difference each and everyday and touched 100s of lives just by simply being.

Life is so much more than a career. Success is not measured by a paycheck or a job title. Success is measured by, well that differs depending on how you see it. Those who I view as successful in my life, are those who know what their God given talent in life is and has multiplied it for the sake of humanity. Those who have an impact on the community where they live and are making a positive change in this world, even if that change is bringing a smile to his or her neighbor’s face or being a vessel of love in the office. That is success in my eyes. Small is big.

Those Swiss Alps...

After a week spent in the mountains, I couldn't help but feel like an ant. Really, I was taking a ski lift with my girlfriend and we looked down at the 100s of snowboarders and skiers, first we were frightened by the greatness of this mountain and the lack of skills that we possessed to get ourselves down on two slates of wood and secondly, we realized how tiny we truly are, we (humans) looked like little specks on the mountain! It was such a powerful moment, we were in one of the prettiest places on this earth and literally shaking in our boots.

It is hard not to feel the power of God in moments like this. His perspective is different from ours and places like Valais, CH, really puts life in perspective. Our mountains in life are never as big as we make them and we are as well not as big as we seem to be. We have a tendency to allow our perspectives to overrule the truth of what it is. We forget that we have a Father, who not only created these mountains, but additionally has an intimate love for us.

Which leads me to my final point, I looked down on each little person on the slopes and felt how much God loves each one of those individuals, regardless of age, nationality, history, future. His love is there for them without boarders.

I found myself later that evening praying a prayer to God, saying, "Lord, your creation is beautiful, thank you for showing me your greatness today. But that beauty I saw today, does not compare to the joy I receive from being in your presence." It's true, the beautiful places, the great friends, amazing family, and simple joys in life are great, but they do not compare of the love God has for us!