"It's Not How Much You Make
That Makes You What You Are" —Ric Walston
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Why do so many people often determine greatness or achievement by simple economics?
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A friend sent me an interesting story. It was about a dinner party in which a CEO was attempting to marginalize a public school teacher because there was no large salary that comes with that occupation.
When I read it, I realized that it could easily be tweaked and made to fit seminary professors.
So, my apologies to the original author--who is unknown--but I have changed the story quite a lot for our context.
(After note about the original source: In an effort to give credit where credit is due, my friend told me that while he does not know who the original author of the story was, the story came from a site called Mikeys Funnies at www.MikeysFunnies.com)
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An Obnoxious CEO
The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life and various occupations. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with educators.
He argued: "What's a person going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher or a professor?"
He reminded the other dinner guests of that old saw about teachers: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."
What do you make?
To prove his point, he said to another guest: "You're a seminary professor, Dave. Be honest. What do you make?"
Dave, who had a reputation of honesty and frankness, replied,
I think that you are really asking me How Much I make, not What I make.
How much I make is irrelevant. But, I will tell you what I make.
I make students work harder than they ever thought they could.
I can make a “B-” feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor and an “A-” feel like a slap in the face if the student did not do his or her very best.
I make students wonder at life. I make them question. I make them criticize. I make them argue effectively. I make them read, read, read. And, then I make them write, write, and rewrite.
I make them fall in love with the Word of God like they could never imagine.
I elevate them to experience the joy of their accomplishments, so their lives are rich, full of kindness, and spirituality, and after their accomplishments, I show them how to lay all of that aside and serve others.
I make doctors: Doctors of the Church. People who are able to minister to the brokenhearted, lead people to the one and only Savior, and people who are capable of defending the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.
I make my students understand that it’s not how much you make that makes you what you are.
And if someone ever tries to judge them by how much they make rather than what they make, I teach them to pay no attention.
So, you see, I make a difference. What do you make?
