Now in its eleventh year of publication, Projections has been around almost as long as the Trinity Project itself. The newsletter features original articles by our church leaders plus information on upcoming message topics, events and home groups. Pick up a copy the first week of every month or download it here (468Kb PDF).

Feature Article for April 2008:

What Is Greatness?

By Dean Hanson

Last week I went on a trip with my daughter Marissa. When we landed back in Portland, we rushed to the bus for a ride to the blue economy parking lot where my truck was parked, anxious to get back home. Our driver was an older gentleman by the name of Bob. Bob had been driving this route from the airport’s front doors to the economy parking lot for years. Every day he makes the round trip over and over again, with faceless passengers who are all intent on where they’ve been, or where they’re going. For most people, his would be seen as the kind of job only a desperate person would take. But not for Bob.

He began our brief trip with a huge smile and a wave. In the slightly broken voice of an old man, he welcomed all the passengers onto his bus, helped with their luggage, and greeted a few of the “regulars”. As the bus pulled away from the terminal, Bob began to share some of the jokes and stories he had in his vast humor library: “Did you hear about the recent discovery of an insect found on the moon? It was a lunar-tic!” and “Do you know what Beethoven did after he passed away? He was de-composing!”

OK, I’ll admit…they weren’t the best jokes in the world, but they made me smile. I found myself listening to this man, and wondering what kept him going. What let him share without caring what people thought about him? I think he’s a great man. He wasn’t important in any way the world would consider. And yet, he knew what he was doing, and he poured his whole heart into it… no half-way living was good enough for Bob.

Greatness is a thing we all dream about, but I wonder if we ever recognize it when we see it. Does it always come with dollar signs and dress clothes, the cushy job and the support staff? What about at home? Does it mean a big house and a new car? Or what about at church? A new building with fancy artwork and water fountains, with lots of guest parking in the front?

Somehow, I don’t think that’s quite it. Greatness is far more intimate, far more personal than a house or a car. It is a life well-lived, simply trying to find its purpose, learning to love, and living intentionally, day after day.

I’ve seen that greatness at Trinity Project and marvel to be a part of it. It has so many faces…Anna, preparing the slides and running the PowerPoint presentation during the service…Rubén opening his heart to the youth after a long, hard week…Karen greeting people at the door and then heading back to help with the classroom set up… Steve helping a friend with a home project. There’s a passion in these acts of service that reflects a very purposeful love the very essence of greatness.
The early church experienced that kind of love.

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:46, 47)

Did you see the greatness there? Meeting friends, having dinner together, enjoying each other’s company… other people saw it and wanted in! They longed to belong, to go “where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.”

I don’t know that Trinity Project will ever be a church of 5000 or even 500. I don’t know if we’ll ever own our own building or get a Swiss bank account to hold all our tithes. That may never be our form of success. The kind of greatness I’m dreaming about is one

• where people come through our doors and are warmly welcomed as friends
• where friends gather regularly outside of the service to care for and support each other
• where support for needs is met through gracious and generous acts of love
• where love allows differing views to be shared without fear
• where fear is removed through loving acceptance

It’s the greatness born of everyday, and often unseen, acts of kindness, compassion, sharing and helping. And it’s the life we’re called to celebrate.

“Deeds, not stones, are the true monuments of the great.” John L. Motley