[I've just heard that some dear friends of mine have just lost their grandmother, and so I would like to humbly dedicate this post to the memory of La Abuelita Chonita de Muñoz. She and her husband founded one of the greatest churches in Guatemala, and has in a small but real way, affected the course of my life.]

Here is a quote from Soren Kierkegaard’s philisophical work Fear and Trembling, edited and translated by Howard V. and Edna H. Hong. I recently received the book out of the kindness of Rebekah Lantz’s heart, who is letting me borrow it until I’ve had my fill. It’s a fascinating read all based on the instance when Abraham was tested by God when commanded to sacrifice his only son Isaac. Hopefully, a book review will be forthcoming.

No! No one who was great in the world will be forgotten, but everyone was great in his own way, and everyone in proportion to the greatness in which he loved…Everyone shall be remembered, but everyone became great in proportion to his expectancy…Everyone shall be remembered, but everyone was great wholly in proportion to the magnitude of that with which he struggled.” [Italics in original.]

To what greatness can a man love? According to Kierkegaard, he who loves himself is great. He who loves the world is greater. Yet, he who loves God is the greatest of all.

To what greatness can a man expect or hope? One can expect the possible, another the eternal, but the one who expects the impossible is the greatest.

To what greatness can a man struggle? A man can be great when he struggle with the world and conquers. The next man becomes great though struggling with himself and winning. Even so, the one who struggles with God and is victorious is the greatest.

May we all strive to the greatness of loving God, expecting the impossible and struggling with God. In this way, we shall be more than remembered; we shall inspire.