The Queen Mary 
was a great English luxury liner, perhaps the greatest of its time. It ferried passengers across the Atlantic, and served as a troop carrier in WW2. But in the early '60's, the city purchased it, brought it in, and set it up as a museum, a display piece. That marvelous engineering feat, designed to navigate freely through ocean waters, has sat still nearly 50 years. It's a treasure to walk through, but is no longer doing as its designers had envisioned and created.
The Spruce Goose was the world's largest airplane, designed and built by H
oward Hughes. It was actually made almost completely of birch (metal being difficult to find) during the second World War, and Hughes had hoped to use it to transport troops. But it wasn't completed until 1947. Hughes actually flew it once in Long Beach Harbor, moving it just above the water for about one minute. Shortly thereafter, the Spruce Goose went into hibernation, to be brought out years later as a showpiece, next to the QM, in it own white geodesic dome. It's since been moved to Oregon, where people can again gaze at its amazing size and complexity. Designed to fly, it now it sits. And forever will.
I mention these tw
o tremendous engineering marvels because they remind me of many of us. We're designed for great things, given skills, abilities and gifts by our Designer and Creator, and we're expected to use them as He designed. Unfortunately, far too many of us take what we've been given and either misuse it, or do little with it. Instead, too many choose to sit on the sidelines, preferring to watch others serve, give, help, and get involved (and often offering our analysis and/or criticism as we watch!).
was a great English luxury liner, perhaps the greatest of its time. It ferried passengers across the Atlantic, and served as a troop carrier in WW2. But in the early '60's, the city purchased it, brought it in, and set it up as a museum, a display piece. That marvelous engineering feat, designed to navigate freely through ocean waters, has sat still nearly 50 years. It's a treasure to walk through, but is no longer doing as its designers had envisioned and created.The Spruce Goose was the world's largest airplane, designed and built by H
oward Hughes. It was actually made almost completely of birch (metal being difficult to find) during the second World War, and Hughes had hoped to use it to transport troops. But it wasn't completed until 1947. Hughes actually flew it once in Long Beach Harbor, moving it just above the water for about one minute. Shortly thereafter, the Spruce Goose went into hibernation, to be brought out years later as a showpiece, next to the QM, in it own white geodesic dome. It's since been moved to Oregon, where people can again gaze at its amazing size and complexity. Designed to fly, it now it sits. And forever will.I mention these tw
o tremendous engineering marvels because they remind me of many of us. We're designed for great things, given skills, abilities and gifts by our Designer and Creator, and we're expected to use them as He designed. Unfortunately, far too many of us take what we've been given and either misuse it, or do little with it. Instead, too many choose to sit on the sidelines, preferring to watch others serve, give, help, and get involved (and often offering our analysis and/or criticism as we watch!).Check yourself. Are you acting according to your design, making good use of your abilities and talents? Or are you like that old ship or plane down the way, good to look at, seemingly put together correctly, but mostly non-functional and not doing much good?
You've got greater value than simply becoming something to look at.
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