To be somebody is being pure of heart
-being free from self-interest
-being free from selfish ambitions
-being free from wrong reactions of mistrust and suspicion
When you are pure of heart
-you listen with understanding
-you listen with goodwill
-you are open to new ideas
-you are receptive and creative,
looking for the beautiful dream
springing forth from the innocent eyes of your neighbour
To be somebody is longing for God
-above everything else
Longing for God is not longing for an experience
It is longing for a true relationship
It is not about having some knowledge of God
But it is about knowing him
-as a person
-as a friend
-as a confidant
-as a companion
Not to become high on him
But to be conformed to his image
Not to learn more, to increase knowledge
But to love him more
I am somebody when I realise
-I am created to be a God-lover
I am somebody when the very purpose of my life
-is to love God
I am somebody when I am longing for God
-only because of love
To be somebody is to see people
For what they are and love them
To see people is to care
It is taking interest in persons you never met before
When you see people you give them time and attention
Seeing people is to see the visible needs
and to do what you can to meet the invisible needs
Seeing people is to touch them with your hands,
as you silently pray for God's blessing upon them
Even though others will say that they only need a doctor
Seeing people is not treating them as patients
But touching them with care
And bestowing dignity on them
To be somebody is to value relationships
above politically correct opinions
or orthodox teology and right confession of belief
Living in a good relationship
with my Creator and my fellow man
make me a human person
Political opinions or religious theories
have a tendency to make me a political animal or a religious beast
Being a friend is more important
than having the best argument
When you care for people
by showing love through acts of mercy
you far exceed the greatest philosopher
in his clever definition of love
When you live in proper relationships
you are really somebody
even though you can't explain love
I am somebody because of my birth
I am born into the most prestigious royal family
My father is the Sovereign Ruler
-of the entire universe
Because he is the almighty creator
-of everything that exist
My brother is the Redeemer
-of the human race
Because he conquered death,
The evil powers of darkness,
Selfishness and sin in all its fashions
My personal assistant is the Sustainer
-of the whole world
Because he is the eternal life-giving spirit
He assisted my father
-in bringing the world into being
He assisted my brother
-in bringing him back from the death
I am somebody because of my relationship
With the mysterious triune Being
Who loved me, chose me, and planned me
Even before the universe existed
Only because of his marvellous grace
I am born into the Kingdom of Love
Friendship with the Living One
Turns a nobody into a real Somebody
To be somebody is to know the Invisible
By living in a personal relationship
Through everyday life with him who walks with you
-when no one else is there for you.
You touch him
-even though you can’t feel him with your hands
You hear his tender voice of thunder
-even though your ear don’t register a sound
You see him clearly
-even though your eyes only see the natural world
By faith only you know the Invisible
-for faith is the art of hearing him
Through hope you cling on to the Invisible
-for hope is the art of believing him
Through love you get close to the Invisible
-for love is the art of trusting him
To be somebody is to hear, believe and trust
In him who no one can see
-even though he is ever present
-even though he constantly reveals himself
The Invisible can only be known in an intimate relationship
(Inspired by some phrases in Summoned to Lead by Leonard Sweet)
To be somebody is to see
That is what it is all about
Seeing with the eyes and the heart
Being present among our neighbours
Some have eyes but don’t see anything
Others have eyes that can’t see
But still they see more than the most
Seeing is discovering and perceiving
What people see, tells you
What kind of people they are
To be somebody is to express oneself and having feedback
– from those who read or listen to us
– from those who observe and touch us
To be somebody is to interact with others
– because you love people
It is to communicate because you care
And staying connected because of the worth you find in others
The joy of being read
– is the knowledge that others take time with you
The excitement of having comments
– is the feeling that others take you serious
The thrill of getting feedback
– is the sense of being connected
To be somebody is being intoxicated
– by feeling of being in touch with the World
– the feeling of crossing borders
– the joy of breaking down barriers
– the excitement of getting rid of your own limitations
Being enabled to communicate
To people close to you and those from far parts of the world
To be somebody is to infect people
By your joy and hope
By your attitudes of faith and love
By your positive words
By your wholesome lifestyle
By your acts of kindness
Great people have the capacity
Of enjoying being with people who are different
Sharing their life and values naturally
Great people are infectious
In the way they live and speak
Always giving of themselves
When you are not infected by evil
Not infected by the greed around you
Not infected by the envy you face
Not infected by the materialism of society
Or the fatalism of traditional religion
But rather infecting your environment
Then you are really somebody
To be somebody is the same as being great
Great people can be seen
– By their unselfish actions and their sacrificial service
Great people can be heard
– By their encouraging words and faithful confessions
Great people can be touched
– Through their practical involvement in our lives
Great people can be felt
– By the atmosphere of love, joy and hope that surrounds them
Great people have an effect on us
– They bring out the best in us
And creates in us a desire to change for the better
As great people has the capacity for enlargement
And the longing for change
That motivates them to never settle
But reach their full potential in God