Wednesday, December 21, 2005

What is Success?

My aunt and uncle sent me a graduation card with this quote on the front of it. I loved it, because it applied so deeply to the last little while in my life - tiny little details that they wouldn't know because we never see each other, but so appropriate nonetheless. It encouraged me to have them recognize this achievement - I often feel very disconnected from Mom's family because of the distance that separates us, but it was special to have my one Christian uncle and his wife drop me a note congratulating me on my graduation. As I considered the time I've poured into others in the last month, the times my plans have changed because they weren't quite what God had in mind, and the number of people who have played a role in my school journey, and also in my spiritual journey, I can't help but appreciate what the card had to say. It read:

What is Success?
SETTING GOALS
but not in concrete
STAYING FOCUSED
but turning aside to help someone
FOLLOWING A PLAN
but remaining flexible
MOVING AHEAD
but not too fast to smell the flowers
TAKING A BOW
but applauding those
who had a part
in your success.