What does Fred Rogers, a.k.a. Mr. Rogers, and Jesus have in common? They were both kind to others. They were gentle. They taught patience. They promoted peace and wanted everyone to live in harmony as neighbors, despite living in a world of discord. They demonstrated self-control.
I would submit to you that at the top of the list is they modeled consistency, a faithful consistency over time. They showed up every day and brought the best version of themselves to common tasks again and again and again. They served others day after day whether they felt like it or not. They sought to serve in a way that people would miss them if they were gone.
Their legacy lives not because they were flashy, aspired to make a big splash, or wanted to be famous, but rather because they did something good over and over and over again. They became great because they did many routine, ordinary, unremarkable things remarkably well.
They understood that their redundancy meant life to someone else. Mr. Rogers knew that kids watching his show could count on his steady corridor of goodness, and to some of the kids, he may be the only consistent, good thing on which they could rely. Mr. Rogers is to kids, as Jesus is to adults.
We all can learn from Mr. Rogers and Jesus’ example by understanding the value of sameness. Don’t underestimate the value of a lifetime of faithful consistency. People desperately need it, especially in today’s culture.
Jesus preached that he’d be back. Mr. Rogers sung that he’d be back too. That he would see us tomorrow. That he’d be back when the week is new.
And we can count on it.
MindWolves 