I’m a big movie fan and, each year, nothing delights me more than awards season. Whether it’s the Golden Globes, the BAFTAs or the mother of all award shows – the Oscars – nothing gives me greater joy at that time of the year than to catch up on all the nominated movies. One year in particular was a huge one for me because I had the opportunity to watch nine of the ten films which were nominated for Best Picture that year and I must say that I was quite fascinated by just how different the movies in the running were. From the light-hearted, animated brilliance of Toy Story 3 to the dark, sinister and mind-boggling intensity of Black Swan and the heart-wrenching moments of desperation and portrayals of unbelievable human strength in 127 Hours, experiencing these films night by night in the course of a week made one thing very clear to me – there is something in this world for everyone.
Sometimes it’s easy to look at the big names and big stars and think that only they matter in the great scheme of things. The rest of us feel like tiny fish in a massive pond but nothing could be further from the truth. At some level and in some way that perhaps we don’t fully fathom, we all have some significance. How can we not? Look at the incredible detail that goes into forming the human body – the intricacies of the human brain, the workings of the heart, the composition of our muscles. I believe that even in death, some have done more than in their lifetime. We may not always understand every detail but there is significance to everything.
Everyone has a space in this world and it is possible for us to make something great of ourselves if we make a quality decision to do so. There is no one person or group of people with a monopoly on greatness or achievement. Sometimes, there is a tendency to look at people who are at the top and to gawk at them with admiration and wonder. Of course, there is healthy admiration and respect which is just plain normal and human. Respect must be given where it is due. But then there is also the very obsessive worship of stars and big names (very prevalent in our day) which seems to cause us to idolize them so much that we forget that we matter too.
In this big, wide world of us, I believe that we all have something to offer. There is room for you in this world and you should never doubt it. Like the films I mentioned earlier, what we have to offer is not the same. What I have to offer the world is not what you have to offer it. So, as best as we can, at whatever level and in whatever capacity, let’s find our space in this world and occupy it. Issues of purpose in life can be understood even better when we allow God into the picture of our lives. If you have questions around the existence of God or wonder how you can relate to Him and understand your value and purpose in life better, please click on the banner below.