When we toured the British Museum in London earlier this summer, I wanted to be sure to see the seven-ton statue of King Ramesses II. He was the pharaoh most likely in power when Moses said: “Let my people go,” so I wanted to engage in some biblical imagination while I stared at his stony face.
But I was also intrigued by something I read in my London guidebook:
“Ramesses was a great builder of temples, palaces, tombs, and statues of himself (…) He was so concerned about achieving immortality that he even chiseled his own name on other people’s statues.”1
This tidbit made me laugh, but I think it speaks to something very human, very relatable. The older we get, the more preoccupied we are with making our mark, leaving a legacy, letting the world know we were here. It’s a way to achieve a kind of immortality, to ensure future generations remember us.
It’s why we find initials carved in trees or painted on walls. It’s why we want buildings or scholarships or discoveries or businesses or recipes named after us. It’s one reason why we make art.
I won’t build temples, palaces, tombs, or statues for myself, but I will write. I will sign my name to this newsletter. I will publish books with my name on the cover.
Part of this impulse, if not to achieve a kind of immortality, is to know that our lives have mattered. That our actions had impact. That we brought about change. That we made the world a bit better by living here. That we created something beautiful or helpful that will outlast us.
For some, this may translate into chasing power, achievement, success, and wealth, at whatever the cost. Some may believe that only by earning respect, fame, prestige, and clout will our lives matter, will we have achieved greatness.
Jesus’ closest disciples even fell into this trap. In Mark 10, James and John ask Jesus if they can sit, “one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” (Mark 10:37) These two have their eyes on power, greatness, immortality. It’s so obvious, the other ten disciples get angry with them.
Jesus doesn’t seem to get angry. Instead, he takes the opportunity to explain how his kingdom works:
“You know that among the gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; instead, whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45, NRSV)
Jesus didn’t criticize their desire for greatness. He didn’t chastise them for their ambition. Jesus wasn’t shy about calling out sin, so we can be reassured that there’s nothing inherently wrong about our ambition or our desire for greatness.
He did, however, flip the script for how to achieve greatness. In God’s upside-down kingdom, those who server and who are “slave of all” are the ones who become great. My eyes glide over this familiar verse, but when I stop to really think about it, it’s so counterintuitive.
For me as a writer and speaker, it means getting cozy with obscurity. It means befriending my own smallness. It means welcoming even minor opportunities.
It’s a complete mindset shift to believe that setting the tables for an event is just as important as being the keynote speaker for it. And when the invitation to speak finally comes, it compels me to prepare just as much for a group of 5 as a crowd of 500.
It’s a serving mindset that means sharing resources and publishing opportunities and knowledge of the industry with other writers instead of hoarding them to myself. It also means generously sharing my words on the page without expectation of thanks, recognition, or accolades.
If the work of the believer is to become more and more like Jesus, then we, too, should seek to serve—especially in areas of our lives where we desire greatness.
In this same vein, I’d like to tell you about a brand new newsletter I’m starting called Sacred Ink. By no means am I an expert, but I am a self-published author who is also now agented, and I’ve been writing consistently for the last seven years. So, I’d like to offer up what I’ve learned in a series of essays.
I’m not sure how many of you readers are also writers, but feel free to follow along here for writerly inspiration and encouragement!2
Something I wrote: How God’s Invitation Can Lead You to True Abundance. Some thoughts on John 10:10. Who is really the “thief” and what does abundant life really mean? “We can run ourselves ragged on the self-help treadmill that leads to nowhere, or we can get still and quiet, listen for the voice of Good Shepherd, and accept God’s invitation to abundant life.”
Something I read and loved: Subdue, Crush, Scatter by
for The Redbud Hyphen. Although couched in the context of motherhood, this beautiful prayer is something we should all have ready in our back pocket!Something I listened to: How to Have a Creative Hobby (Even If You Think You’re Not Creative) on the 3 in 30 Takeaways for Moms podcast. I am so inspired to watercolor badly after listening to this! Maybe this fall would be a great season to try something new without needing to master it.
Something I’m cooking: August is the hottest month in San Diego so I’m always on the lookout for summer recipes that don’t involve heating up my kitchen. This Summer Chickpea Pasta Salad fits the bill!
In honor of Back to School season, all the coloring resources in my Etsy shop are 30% off, including this “One-Anothers of Faith” coloring book! Now you have a reason to go shopping for fun art supplies for you too :)
Until next time,
From Rick Steve’s Pocket London, p. 78
Quick note: you’ll have to subscribe separately to Sacred Ink to get updates in your email inbox, so make sure you do that if you want to get the next post later this week!
I am really looking forward to “Sacred Ink”.