Today, we live in a society that celebrates the latest and greatest.
The TV commercial proclaims the announcement: New and Improved!
The LinkedIn notification lets us know about our contact who moved to a different company.
The latest product grabs the attention at the annual company meeting.
Today, we live in a society that celebrates the latest and greatest. The new product or the latest trend tends to garner the headlines. And, let me be clear, as an entrepreneur I get excited when something is new. I love to see an exciting startup, a brand new venture, and the bold innovations.
However, the older I get, the more impressed I am by the individuals, the leaders, and the companies who stay consistent over the long haul.
I bet you can think of people like that right now. They show up, day after day, week after week, year after year. They may not be flashy, but they are making a difference.
The principle is simple but profound:
World-changers aren’t just the ones with big ideas. They’re the ones who answer their calling and keep showing up, even when it’s not exciting anymore.
Here are a few that come to mind:
– My parents, 44 years into a marriage that grows richer each year. They are modeling consistency.
– My friend Justin Miller, who co-founded Untold when he was in college and is still at it more than 15 years later.
– Our Senior Pastor at church, 72 years old, still serving faithfully after more than 50 years in ministry.
These people understand something I’m just learning to grasp: there’s a kind of magic in what Eugene Peterson calls “a long obedience in the same direction.”
Real, lasting change often happens through the slow burn of consistency.
So today, I want to celebrate each of you who keep showing up.
Those of you who stay committed when it would be easier to quit.
Those of you who continue when it’s tempting to chase the next shiny thing.
Those of you who understand that faithfulness is worth it, when it seems that no one is noticing.
One last thing: when someone comes to your mind today that has been consistent for a long time, reach out and let them know how much you appreciate them. That encouragement might be just what they need to keep going another day.
