What's Important?

I know Lutherans aren't alone in this, but we often take little things for granted. We skew our priorities. We "treasure things and use people" when we should actually "treasure people and use things."

But what is remembered in the end? What will people remember. It isn't the car that I drive or the house I lived in, but often the people we befriended and influenced.

Luther himself was selfless. Katie often had to hide the wedding gifts because Martin often gave them away to people he felt needed them! (Martin had a weakness for accepting every story from every beggar. He erred on the side of compassion.)

In the realm of the religious he was especially mindful of his position and what mattered in his calling. Christmas was seen by Luther through a child's eyes--the wonder of God taking on human flesh and dwelling for awhile among us. He sat by a dying daughter, comforting her, and when it was time to go Home, Luther comforted her in knowing that all would be well in the arms of her Savior. To another son Luther took the time to write about what heaven would be like. Rather than describe it as a feast, Kuther described it as a children's carnival.

And in change and in training Luther was very through. Often a rite would be continued by Luther not because Luther felt it was right, because he often felt the opposite, but that he wanted to train his people in the faith before causing confusion with abrupt change.

Take the following quiz. It will remind you how fleeting glory is, but also how those "little things" remain with us all our lives. Celebrity rarely touches our lives, and then only in a fleeting moment. Someone taking time to listen, to teach, to train, to console, to be there for us and with us leaves a lasting impression.

Leave a lasting impression on those around you. Remember that Jesus was no celebrity; but look at the impact he left on the world! He was no popular with the "in" crowd, but it is Jesus' name we praise today, while we know very few names from that "in" crowd.

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Take this quiz:

Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.

Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.

Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

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