Potential Lost

Posted by Shari Biediger on May 7th, 2010 in Blog | 1 Comment

Of all the heart wrenching emotions I felt while first watching a movie about Anne Frank last week, the feeling that has stayed with me the longest is the deep loss of potential.

She wanted to be a writer.

She wanted to be a great writer. You could argue that she did, indeed, achieve that dream. With the foresight and wisdom of those who saved and published her writings, her words, her thoughts, her impressions of life reached the masses. Her diary has been published in 60 languages and makes several lists of the top books of the 20th century.

Yet, I wonder how many Anne Franks there were during that time, people who are lost to us forever. Not just future great writers, but scientists, leaders, teachers - men and women who were destined to do great things, even bear and raise great people, and impact our world in defining ways.

I take great strength in believing that their lives did have meaning and impact. The way in which we lost them has catapulted our vigilance against such acts. While such violence - a clash in South Darfur took 85 lives last week — and insidious bigotry — I witness it daily in my own neighborhood - continues today, I am not going to deny victims like Anne Frank the value and meaning that their lives had by saying they have had no impact. I firmly believe it has.

So when I see my friend who can’t get past the racial prejudices she was raised with, I remember to be thankful that I have had opportunities in my life to grow out of the ones I myself grew up with, and I for pray the same for her. Bias will not beget bias.

And, on those days when I slip, and my head leads and not my heart, I’m going to remember lost potential. I’m going to consider how every moment, every action, every word, has an impact on the potential of tomorrow and what could be.

God calls all people to the altar. Not just the ones we choose to accept. All!