Walking Among Giants: The Art of Leaving a Mark

The crisp air of autumn has a way of slowing time, inviting reflection. This past weekend, as I wandered through High Point University’s Kester International Promenade, I found myself surrounded by greatness—not just in the architecture or the gardens, but in the quiet presence of those immortalized in bronze.

Along the brick-lined path stood more than 20 statues of world changers—leaders, inventors, visionaries—each accompanied by words that have shaped generations. I paused at every bench, reading, listening, and offering silent thanks for how God used each of them to make a difference.

Halfway down the promenade, I stopped in my tracks at a quote by the artist Vincent Van Gogh:

“I am still far from being what I want to be, but with God’s help I shall succeed.”

Van Gogh’s words struck me deeply. Though he’s now celebrated as one of history’s most revered painters, during his lifetime he sold only one painting. He battled mental illness, rejection, and despair—yet he never stopped creating. His life reminds us that success is not always measured in applause, but in the courage to keep going.

Three Reflections from the Promenade

1. Inspiration Is Everywhere, If We Slow Down to See It
Our world moves quickly, but growth happens when we pause long enough to absorb the wisdom around us. That day, each statue seemed to whisper a timeless truth—urging me to listen, to learn, and to keep believing in what’s possible.

2. Every Act, Big or Small, Leaves a Mark
You don’t have to invent the light bulb like Edison or change the course of nations like Churchill. Sometimes the greatest legacy is a note of encouragement, a gesture of compassion, or a single life uplifted because you cared.

3. Faith Fuels Perseverance
Van Gogh’s faith didn’t remove his struggles—it gave him strength through them. Like him, we may never fully see the impact of our faith and work in our lifetime. But with God’s help, we too can succeed in the ways that matter most.

Conclusion

That quiet walk reminded me that legacies aren’t built in the spotlight—they’re shaped in the everyday choices to believe, create, and give. This week, take time to reflect on those who’ve inspired you, and consider how you might do the same for others.

As Vincent Van Gogh once said,

“When Life Moves You to the Second Shelf”

It began as one of those ordinary errands — a quick trip to CVS for a few incidentals. In my hand, I clutched a 35% off coupon, my golden ticket to saving a few dollars on life’s small necessities. But as any man who still shaves with a razor knows, those “necessities” now cost about as much as a dinner out.

So, I made my way down the aisle, dodging the “Super Seniors” who seem to make a day of visiting CVS, catching up with old friends or making new ones in the greeting card section. Finally, I arrived at the familiar shelf where my trusty Trac II blades had lived for decades. But they were gone.

I looked again. Slower this time. I scanned each row, only to find walls of shiny five-blade, pivoting, turbo-powered razors promising the “closest shave ever.” I was about to surrender to the Fusion 5 Proglide when—there they were. My Trac IIs. Moved to the second shelf.

I paused longer than I’d like to admit. There was something about that demotion — from the prime shelf to the secondary — that hit me. Not because I couldn’t find them, but because it said something deeper about time, change, and the quiet shift in how the world moves on… even when we don’t notice.

Three Reflections from the Second Shelf

1. Progress Doesn’t Always Mean Better
The world loves the new and improved. Five blades must be better than two, right? But sometimes, simplicity holds its own quiet wisdom. The Trac II may not boast turbo power, but it’s reliable — just like the values, habits, and friendships that have served us faithfully for years.

2. Change Has a Way of Testing Our Adaptability
Finding my razors on the second shelf made me think about how we respond when the familiar shifts. Do we grumble? Or do we adjust, adapt, and keep moving? Life will always rearrange our “aisles.” The key is to keep walking them with grace and humor.

3. Age Isn’t a Downgrade — It’s a Reclassification
Maybe that second shelf isn’t a demotion. Maybe it’s a reminder that wisdom, experience, and patience sometimes get placed a little lower, not because they’re less valuable, but because they’ve been around long enough to no longer need the spotlight.

Closing Reflection

As I walked out of CVS, bag in hand and coupon redeemed, I smiled. Life’s small moments have a way of offering the best lessons — if we slow down long enough to see them. Sometimes, the world moves our razors — or our routines, or our roles — to a different shelf. That’s not the end. It’s just an invitation to see life from a slightly new angle.

Make Something Good

Every so often, a phrase strikes you like a brushstroke across a blank canvas — simple, yet profoundly true. My friend Ralph Marston once wrote, “Make something good. Make something valuable.” Those words stirred me because they echo what I’ve spent a lifetime trying to do with my art: use the gifts I’ve been given to create something that endures.

It’s easy to live as consumers — of moments, possessions, even beauty. Yet the truest satisfaction comes not from what we acquire, but from what we create. Whether it’s a phone call, a compliment, a handwritten note, or an act of kindness, every creative gesture leaves a trace of who we are and what we care about.

The simple card above says it all — “Your kindness was better than a pot of gold.” No store-bought message could ever say it better because it came straight from the heart. It reminds us that the most meaningful creations don’t come from a shelf; they come from within. So don’t just buy a card — make one. Doodle a rainbow, write your own words, let your authenticity shine through. There’s something deeply powerful about daring to be original.

Three Brushstrokes of Meaning

1. Awareness – Seeing Beyond Ourselves
Creation begins when we open our eyes to what’s around us — the needs, the beauty, the quiet details that others overlook. Awareness transforms ordinary moments into opportunities for compassion and connection.

2. Resourcefulness – Using What You Have
You don’t need a studio or a stage to make something meaningful. Creativity blooms in everyday gestures — a shared meal, a note of encouragement, a helping hand. When we use what we have, we multiply its impact.

3. Timing – Acting in the Moment
Inspiration has a window. When we sense the call to create, that’s our cue to move — not later, not someday. The best creations are born not of perfect plans but of willing hearts.

A Closing Thought

What gives life its richest hue is not what we consume, but what we contribute. Each of us carries the power to create beauty — not just on a canvas, but in the way we treat one another.
So the next time you want to express something meaningful, dare to be original. Make something good. Make something from you.

The Hidden Strength of Hinges

Sometimes life forces us to pause. I’m writing this while flat on my back, recovering from another flare-up that reminds me of the hardware holding me together — titanium rods and screws installed by my extraordinary neurosurgeon, Dr. Henry Elsner. Without his skill, my spine — the ultimate hinge — wouldn’t have the strength to bear the weight of my frame or my life’s journey.

As I lay there on a heating pad, sunlight drifted across a simple six-panel Douglas fir door. It’s been part of this home for nearly seventy years, quietly doing its job. But what caught my attention wasn’t the door itself — it was the hinges. Two small brass pieces, no larger than a man’s hand, faithfully carrying the hundred-pound door with ease.

There’s a lesson in that.

Hidden Strength Holds Us Together
Hinges never call attention to themselves, yet everything depends on them. The same is true in life. The quiet, steady forces of faith, family, and friendship often carry more weight than we realize. My titanium hinges are a daily reminder that strength doesn’t always roar — sometimes, it simply endures.

Alignment Creates Grace 
A door only swings freely when its hinges are properly aligned. So it is with us. When our hearts, values, and actions line up, we move through life with balance and grace. Misalignment brings friction — an invitation to pause and let God restore our center.

Small Things Move Big Things 
A hinge is a fraction of the door’s size, yet it makes everything work beautifully. Likewise, life often turns on small, faithful acts — a kind word, a note of encouragement, a prayer whispered at the right time. Great moments are often born from humble hinges.

As I looked at that old door, I realized both it and my spine share a sacred design — each built to hinge, to bend, to bear, and to keep moving forward. Whether forged by craftsmanship or by God’s grace, both exist to connect what was closed to what can open again.

“Great doors of opportunity often swing on small hinges.” — Anonymous

And sometimes, those hinges are made of titanium.

“Measuring Success: A Lesson in Perspective"

Recently, my wife Cynthia and I celebrated a new home with dear friends. Their success has afforded them life’s many comforts—beautiful cars, exclusive club memberships, and second homes that break the monotony of everyday routines. As I admired the fruits of their hard work, I felt a familiar tug inside: Am I doing enough with my own talents?

That same evening, while the U.S. Ryder Cup team was being trounced on television, my phone rang. It was James, a long-time friend who once lived in a homeless shelter. He called not with needs, but with joy: a praise report. A friend he had been praying for—someone who is a double amputee—had just landed a job.

At that moment, the grandeur around me and the simplicity of his news collided, and my perspective shifted.

Three Reflections on Perspective

1. Comparison Can Distort Reality
   It’s human nature to measure ourselves against others, but it’s a dangerous game. Success is not always found in possessions or status—it’s often revealed in contentment, faith, and resilience.

2. True Wealth Lies in Gratitude
   James’s joy over his friend’s new job reminded me that gratitude transforms even the smallest victories into treasures. Sometimes the simplest praises carry more weight than the grandest celebrations.

3. Perspective Is a Gift
   Over 50 years, I’ve shared tables with billionaires and the homeless alike. These encounters remind me that success wears many faces. Perspective is the bridge that keeps us grounded, grateful, and aware of what truly matters.

That evening, two worlds collided for me: the elegance of luxury and the humility of survival. Both offered a lesson, but only one left me lingering in reflection. Success isn’t a single definition—it’s the lens we choose to see life through.