Specialness

Are we special – or not special?

The commencement speech that went viral on YouTube last month was delivered by David McCullough Jr. to the graduating class where he teaches. While the bulk of his address was intended to challenge the young graduates to aspire to great heights and to work hard to achieve those aspirations, the most often quoted or replayed segment is where he reminds those seniors that they are “not special.”  He used statistics to demonstrate that there are thousands, hundreds of thousands or even millions of other people who are roughly equivalent (in skill, situation, accomplishments, opportunity, capacity and so on) to each person in his audience.

In our church this past Sunday, the sermon related to Father’s Day.  From Genesis, scripture recounts the story of the time Abraham was commanded by God to sacrifice his son Isaac.  The thoughtful sermon drew on the similarities and differences between God’s love of all of his children and a father’s love and duty to his kids.  In the opening comments, the pastor was quick to tell every child in the congregation that he or she is special and they should remember that fact as the story of Abraham and Isaac unfolded. 

The pastor conjectured about the possible content of the conversation between Abraham and the son he had been commanded to slay as an offering to God.  What Abraham said and what questions Isaac might have asked?  A wave of knowing chuckles circulated through the room as everyone over eight could relate to one or both ends of parent-child talks – albeit not usually involving mortal sacrifice.

Probably like every other father in the room, my thoughts turned to my children and grandchildren.  It made me examine my actions and the extent of my courage when doing the right parental thing was painful or costly.  As a father, I ardently believe that my kids are special.  My grandkids - different but even more so.  A large part of who I am is tied up in what they have done and in the kind of people they are and are becoming.  Certainly, I've praised them when their accomplishment fell short of being unique in the world.  There have also been occasions on which we praised the good things they did and omitted mention of their shortfalls.  For Mr. McCullough these types of parental actions could send the wrong message to kids.  However, given the chance, I'd use those moments to show parental love and would do the same again. 

Mr. McCullough rightly makes the point that if everyone gets a trophy, then trophies lose all meaning.  He asserts that there is no sustaining value or lasting satisfaction in pursuing the trophy for the accolades it brings.  A pastor cites scripture saying every blade of grass is important to God, and adds that surely means that every human being is special.  In other commencement addresses, speakers told graduates they were special because of the degrees earned and counseled that their work was just beginning.  The book of Luke teaches that for those who have much (talents, skills, education, resources, etc) much is expected.  It does not say that having much makes a person more special.

In our literature, there are loads of examples where the highest accolades are reserved for the most humble servants – those who would never pursue being personally special.  Even in the days of yesteryear, our Saturday morning movies made heroes out of characters like the Lone Ranger who wore a mask so no one could know him.  He would never receive a certificate or trophy for his good works - he rode into the sunset satisfied that his work was important and meaningful.  Suffering for others garners the greatest following in literature and, at its ultimate, is the essential basis for many of our faith traditions.

When Mr. McCullough asks the graduates to work selflessly, he assures them that they will feel the reward and will feel special.  I don’t believe he meant that everyone should become Mother Teresa. He believes that the satisfaction from meaningful accomplishment and service will last far longer than the luster on a plaque.  Scripture suggests that doing God’s work, doing what’s right, will result in permanent reward.

Every human life is special because of its innate value but that type of specialness is not unique nor a reason for reward.  As stewards of this world, there is much to do.  Opportunities abound for everyone to accomplish special things.  Such actions may or may not be commemorated with awards but there is assuredly ample reward in doing the right things.

I think the evidence is clear that the answer to whether we’re special, or not,  is simply, Yes.

--td