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With the 4th of July just a few days behind us, the WWII memorial completed a few years ago in DC and the 62nd anniversary of D-day in the recent past there has been a renewed focus on the WWII generation for the last few years now. Numerous times we have all heard that the WWII generation was the greatest generation of Americans's to ever live and I agree with that in general. These facts need not bind us though as we move into the future.

There is hope in me that the next generation, or the one after that, can and will be greater then the WWII generation. Basically I think we always need to believe that the future can be brighter then the past, even when the past was great. Bottom line every generation has to work to determine it’s destiny and place and then allow time and history to settle the disputes.

In today’s note I want to acknowledge the WWII generation has great, but then move on and discuss how greatness can be found in every generation and how great individuals thrive in all situations. Simply, I contend, there small groups of individuals in less successful / less “great generations” that have impacted the world just as much as the great generations that have come before us. My hope is that in time I can be a part of such a group. I would love to be remembered a person that impacted those around him, even if no one notices my impact until I am gone. I also feel that such a goal should be in the heart of every Christian. The goal of the Christian is not just too accomplish what those around them accomplish but to surpass their peers, their restraints, their limitations, and their surroundings and impact the world regardless of the state and condition of the world and people around them.

I may not be part of the WWII generation, and my generation (early genX/pre gen Y - i.e. why?) has yet too show that it has the same greatest, but great men/women have always overcome their generations / surroundings to impact the world. A few examples of that is follow.

First you have the 55 to 60 men that formed the American government - their generation was not really behind a war with Britain. The wealthy landowners did not want to risk losing their lands, the poor citizens just wanted to be left alone, and most of society assumed rebellion against the strongest nation of the time was a lost cause before it began. In addition, their generation was slow to warm to the idea of self government in general. Over time however, these few men convinced the rest of the nation to give it a go. I have read several accounts in history that claim that as few as a 1/3 of the citizens in the colonies were even for the war most of the time it was going on. Most were just along for the ride, and whoever won they would follow, sounds similar to our current apathy as a nation does it not. The average person was not committed to freedom, they were committed to self preservation and protection. Yet, in the end the citizens came to embrace the freedoms and rights that were begun by a few men during a hot summer in Philadelphia. It was not their generation that was great, it was the actions / leadership of these few men that made their generation legendary.

In the same regard George Washington Carver changed the world for everyone, black, red, yellow or white, while still living under Jim Crowe, and personally being but one generation from slavery. His focus was not on where he began, nor where his people were viewed in society, his focus was on what HE personally could do and what his work could do to help improve the lives / future of others. Society was against, his lineage was against him, but he had a dream and the work ethic to accomplish what his dreams had set before him as possible. His greatest was in his dream and in his work ethic to accomplish it, not in his surrounds, his place in society, nor his freedoms within the nation.

Last, but certainly not least, were the apostles and the first generation church. They were the products of legalism, unbelief, out right rebellion, a oppressive occupational government, and most of all disrespect within society. Their leader had been crucified,. Even though Jesus rose from the grave and was seen by thousands, not all believed the truth nor in the actual fulfillment of the exact scriptures that the religious leaders had studied for generations past. At some point, all the apostles lacked either religious training, formal schooling, respect within society, personal freedom, and/or money, if not a combination of all the above. Yet their greatest was evident in their work for God. Their generation may not be behind them, but the God of creation was and that was enough to follow their visions, dreams and God invested hopes. Their greatness was in their devotion and their faith, not in their surroundings, education, peers or society.

My point is that though we personally may not be members of a great generation, live in a great society, or be a great people - though I personally contend America is as great as any society or people that exist - we are the children of a great God. That is enough to change the world. People in worse generations then the present one have changed the world forever, and people with far less opportunities then exist today have overcome their surrounds, education, peers, and situations to be remembered as great people. Our dreams and goals need not limited by our surroundings. Our bottom line limiting factor is not our situation, our society, or our condition, but our willingness to persevere, sacrifice, and work to become all we are called to be.

Have a great day, take that high ground God is calling you too, and know that His greatness is sufficient to make up for our weakness, failings, misdirections, lack of abilities, and short sightedness. He is great, we are weak, He is strong.

Rest in His strength, be courageous, and trust God with your dreams and goals.