What if I amount to nothing
And come to the end with empty hands?
No podium standing or trophy toting or
Byline, book-bound, crown-found meaning?

What if I am only a creature or object —
A lesson in futility, misplaced effort,
Humility lost and found and lost again.

Perhaps I cannot be optimized. What if
I accomplish nothing more than breath?
What will I be if I become only this, only me?
Flesh and bone filled with grace, drenched in mercy.

This is not a race and you cannot win.
All has been given and given and given.
It is given again each morning, each moment.
No scorecard in sight, no throne (save one).  

What if I amount to nothing
And come to the end with empty hands?
It will be enough.

COMMENTS

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5 responses to “What If I Amount to Nothing?”

1. Jeannine says:

   06/20/2019 at 12:20 pm

   Thank you so much for this, as it is a constant concern on my heart and beautifully sums up those thoughts and feelings! I hope you don’t mind if I copy and paste this and keep it in the books I read for a bookmarker (and probably on my dresser at home and my desk at work).

   Reply
2. Niki Ratliff says:

   06/20/2019 at 12:54 pm

   Thank you. I am go grateful for this. It sunk me to my knees, as I feel the pressure ALL the time to be more than I can possibly be. Thank you for putting such thoughtful and beautiful words to my feelings.

   Reply
3. Wendy says:

   06/20/2019 at 3:44 pm

   Amen! Thank you so much for this! “This is not a race and you cannot win. All has been given and given and given.” Yes! It is all grace. All gift. Thank God for our Rescuer Jesus Christ who did it all for us!

   Reply
4. Michael Nicholson says:

   06/20/2019 at 4:59 pm

   This is great. Thank you.

   Reply
5. Patricia F. says:

   06/20/2019 at 5:47 pm

   Thank you, thank you, thank you, for this!!! I feel this fear every day.

   Reply