Fifteen Minutes

When most people try to think up important memories they try to think back to their childhood to see what they can recall; funny, sad, or even not that special. But one of the moment that I know I will always remember happened not that long ago. It was my final presentation of High school. At my school, a small privet/home school in Texas, instead of having a graduation ceremony each student in the class gives their final presentation; a fifteen minute speech on the subject of their choice to illustrate what they had learned over the past four years in school. I remember sitting there practically shaking with fright, knowing that it was almost my turn. I had been preparing for weeks, but I would never know how well I had done until I stood before that terrifying microphone and opened my mouth. And then the teacher called my name and the room clapped politely and I walked up onto the stage. My speech began with a quote from Hamlet and concerned the uniquely human nature of mankind. Perhaps I remember it because I did indeed get the best grade in the class, or because everyone there said I did so well, but even more than that I remember it because I felt that for once I had done something right. I felt that I had something that I did that I could look back on and be proud of. I had accomplished something important to me. Or as Donald Miller might say: I wanted something and overcame conflict to get it. In that moment I lived a good story and I found myself doing what I knew God wanted me to do.

I’m supposed to keep this short so I’ll stop there, but here are two questions to finish off: What is the difference between success and accomplishment? And if you had to define your life’s passion and interest in fifteen minutes what would you say?

Kel