what will you become?

I remember a discussion in seminary where the work of pastors was described as a series of waves on the beach.  There are many little waves that do their work, and then from time to time there is a tsunami- a Billy Graham, or a Robert Schuler.

All the seminarians quietly wondered what size of wave they would become.  The incident has  perturbed me over the years because it demands that we compare ourselves to each other.

Recently I came across a story from the book, Tuesdays with Morrie. 

The story is about a little wave, bobbing along in the ocean, having a grand old time. He's enjoying the wind and the fresh air - until he notices the other waves in front of him, crashing against the shore. "My God, this terrible", the wave says. "Look what's going to happen to me!"

Then along comes another wave. It sees the first wave, looking grim, and it says to him: "Why do you look so sad?" The first wave says: "You don't understand! We're all going to crash! All of us waves are going to be nothing! Isn't it terrible?"

The second wave says: "No, you don't understand. You're not a wave, you're part of the ocean."

I like it.  It is something to think about.  It can't always be about me. 
It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.