Legacy Youth Ministry Resources

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C.S. Lewis' Humility

Oxford professor C.S. Lewis was one of the most successful authors in history. But according to some of his lifelong writing friends, he'd never put himself above them when they would critique one another's writing. Although they were far less successful than he was, he never threw his weight around. According to one of them, Owen Barfield, "I never recall a single remark, a single word or silence, a single look.... which would go to suggest that he felt his opinion was entitled to more respect than that of his old friends... I wonder how many famous men there have been of whom this could truthfully be said.? (Barfield quote found in The Friendship Factor, by Alan Loy McGinnis, Augsburg Publishing House, 1979, pp. 63-64)

Others Are Superior

Great 19th century essayist, poet and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson said, ?Every man I meet is my superior in some way.? How could he say this, knowing that his intellect was far greater than the great majority of people he would ever meet? He must have known that one person had learned more than he through their rich experiences, another plays an instrument better or is a superior builder. If a man of the stature of Emerson could see the great qualities of others, shouldn't it be easier for us regular people to do the same? Wouldn't that one attitude keep us from looking down on anyone? (Written by Steve Miller. Quote of Emerson found in The Friendship Factor, by Alan Loy McGinnis, Augsburg Publishing House, 1979, pp. 97-98)

Scholar Works Among Retarded

So many people spend their lives seeking recognition, the respect and applause of people. Here's one guy who had it all, but gave it up to minister to those our society generally ignores. Henri Nouwen was born in The Netherlands. During his youngest years he remembers a mother who always praised and affirmed him as a person, calling him to always love Jesus. Henri's father challenged him to make something of his life and pushed him to do more with his talents. His father wanted Henri to be a "success." "I lived the first part of my life listening more to the voice of my father," said Henri. "The second part of my life I listened more to the voice of my mother." This explains why a successful author, lecturer, and professor of Psychology at three top universities: Notre Dame, Yale and Harvard, gave up academic life to live in a community of mentally challenged adults. During his journey from the hallowed halls of academia to the nitty gritty of a life spent caring for adults who cannot care for themselves, Henri spent countless hours learning what it means to truly accept and love someone unconditionally. Henri learned of the work of Jean Vanier, a Canadian who created communities where adults with developmental disabilities lived with "friends." Henri moved into L'Arche Daybreak such community in Toronto, Canada to become a "friend." When Henri arrived at Daybreak, he gained notoriety more for his inability to make a sandwich than the 30 books he'd written. His heavy Dutch accent caused many to misunderstand his conversations about "faith." The residents thought this gangly man who couldn't speak very well was awfully concerned with "face." Henri spent his early years teaching the academically elite and writing 30 books on spiritual life. His last ten years were spent serving people who couldn't even read. The people of Daybreak didn't really care that Henri's name was known across the world. They just cared that he loved them. The lessons learned at Daybreak were profound for Henri the scholar. He developed a deep friendship with Adam Arnett. Adam never spoke a word in his life, yet he taught Henri his greatest lessons about slowing down, being physically present with people, and that love between two people can grow without words. Henri tells the story in his book "Adam: God's Beloved." God had been teaching Henri for several years that every person is "Beloved" to God, regardless of what we do, have, or how we look--but this was made most evident for him through his relationship with Adam. This was Henri's last book before he died of a heart attack in his homeland of The Netherlands in route to Russia to film a documentary on Rembrandt's painting of the Prodigal Son. Just a few years before, Henri wrote, "Our death may be the end of our success, our productivity, our fame or our importance among people, but it is not the end of our fruitfulness. In fact, the opposite it true....." If you looked at your daily schedule, is your time spent seeking success, or seeking lasting fruit? Will the things you're living for outlast this life, or will they die when you die? ? Copyright 2002 written by C.K. Miller, from material found on the Henri Nouwen website (www.nouwen.net/henri)

Aristotle on Dignity

Dignity does not consist in possessing honors, but in deserving them. --Aristotle

Don't Be Afraid to Look Bad

"Show me a guy who's afraid to look bad and I'll show you a guy you can beat every time." --St. Louis' Lou Brock

Intelligent Full of Doubt

The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt --Bertrand Russell

Heroes Slip Away

Heroes are people who rise to the occasion and slip quietly away. --Tom Brokaw

First Test of a Truly Great Man

I believe the first test of a truly great man is his humility. I do not mean by humility, doubt of his own powers. But really great men have a curious feeling that the greatness is not in them, but through them. And they see something divine in every other man. --John Ruskin

Discovering Our Own Ignorance

Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance. --Will Durant

Replacing An Empty Mind With An Open One

Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one. --Malcolm Forbes

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