Can You List Ten Academy Award Winners? Me Neither.

This morning, I listened to a very smart and humorous man speak at church. He invited us all to think for a few minutes to complete the following lists. Try it:

- Name ten Academy Award winners.
- Name six of the most recent World Series champions
- Name five Pulitzer Prize recipients. 
- Name ten of the richest people on the planet.

(If you can even get halfway through any of the lists, I'm impressed.)

Then, he asked us to think about completing the next few lists:

- Name three teachers who have inspired you.
- Name two heroes from your life.
- Name four people who have cared about you during a hard time.

The second set was significantly easier, right? And these are the people who don't have the crazy, through the roof credentials. Instead, these are the people who care about you.

In a world where it seems as though everyone is trying to be the richest or smartest or coolest or have the best stuff, that's not the stuff that actually matters. What matters, at least to me, is the personal connections I have with people. 

I remember my funny third grade teacher who came up with an awesome way of teaching us about the Mayflower. I couldn't tell you the type of expensive car Jimmy's mom picked him up in. I remember when my high school writing teacher sat with me for hours (literally hours) to help me write my college essay, not the fancy prom dress that pretty girl was wearing. I remember all of the games my parents cheered me on, not who got the MVP Ball at the end of each game. I remember the people who've helped me and inspired me.


What do you want to be remembered for?