“Everyone has the power for greatness, not for fame but greatness, because greatness is determined by service.” This quote by Martin Luther King, Jr. is true in general. Is it true for you and me?

   Some of the best stories my dad told me as a kid were about when he was a kid. "I was so desperate for an award that I took a bronze vase from my mother's shelf and created a race I was sure I'd win," he shared sheepishly, "and when I did, the cup was my trophy"  

   Dad was a champion at praising his children. He did the same with employees at the Y.M.C.A.'s he led.

   When I became a leader in 5th grade (and forever after) giving sincere recognition became my metier. There are dangers. First, fake praise. Eventually, the recipient senses the counterfeit. Both sides feel empty. The second danger (a mistake I still make), is to think recognition determines worth. 

   A hollow feeling always hid below my career pursuits: Was I seeking the "trophy" for glory or doing something was meaningful? 

   Serving others, whether in healthcare, law, ministry or through my art, has been a life credo. I have gotten extensive recognition, deserved or not. We all want our motives to be sincere.

   Clearly, the choice between recognition and relevance is not binary. Dr. King loved winning the Nobel Prize. Simultaneously, his joy was informed by knowing his work mattered. A great thing about winning the worlds top trophy is that it combines both goals. 

   Relevance is meaning. Recognition is fame. Dr. King won both. But, caregivers win the only trophy that matters whenever they serve others. 

-Erie Chapman

Picture of Dr King from class photo