A Single Thread

An excerpt of lyrics from ‘Through Heaven’s Eyes’ (Prince of Egypt movie) -

“A single thread in a tapestry, though its color brightly shines
Can never see its purpose, in the pattern of the grand design
And the stone that sits on the very top, of the mountains mighty face
Does it think it's more important than the stones that form the base?

So how can you see what your life is worth, or where your value lies?
You can never see through the eyes of man, you must look at your life through heaven's eyes

So how do you measure the worth of a man, in wealth or strength or size?
In how much he gained or how much he gave? Look through heaven’s eyes

No life can escape being blown about, by the winds of change and chance
And though you never know all the steps, you must learn to join the dance

So how do you judge what a man is worth…By what he builds or buys?
You can never see with your eyes on earth, Look through heaven's eyes”

~~~~~

I’ve been listening to this song on repeat for the last week. It’s on constant replay in my mind as I’m trying to sleep at night. Interestingly, someone mentioned to me just a day or two ago about taking the threads of my story out, one by one, and publicly sharing them. I immediately was reminded of this song - the very first line talks about a single thread in a tapestry being part of a bigger design. Sometimes we feel like our stories, our purpose, are so hard to see. We are a single thread in this large design and it’s often difficult to understand our importance in the whole.

I love that this song goes on to talk about how we measure a person’s worth. We are a single thread in humanity, and when may even shine brightly on our own, but we are far from the whole picture. So how do we identify what our worth is, what we bring to the table, when we often can’t see the whole table to begin with? Do we measure our worth, and our success, by what we build, or buy, in wealth or strength or size, or in any other thing? Or do we measure our worth in what we give, what we’ve contributed, what we have selflessly provided for others? What is the value of what you’ve made, if you keep it all locked away for yourself and aren’t harnessing it and multiplying it out for the greater purpose & design?

I often sit and think “I wish I could win the lottery so I could give to this and that and the other.” This year, I am pushing myself, and I’m going to call you to push yourself too. Stop waiting to have more to give more. What you already have is the envy of many. Step out, step up, and measure your worth by what you give instead of what you build or buy.

I’d love you to comment some ideas on how you can give, pushing yourself past your comfort zone, and maybe your idea will inspire someone else. I have several ways I give, but I’m challenging myself to push it even further, and give until it hurts a little. Outside of my comfort zone and into someone else’s blessing.