Remembered?

Just over a week ago, Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon died.  In 1972, as Cernan explored the lunar surface, certainly he peered upon the Montes Apenninus, the massive mountain range on earth's great nightlight.  Among the various peaks that rise in that range stands Mons Wolff.  Mons Wolff received its name from those who wished to honor Christian von Wolff.  Today marks the three hunded and thirty-eighth anniversary of Wolff's birthday.  Few people outside the fields of philosphy, mathematics, and science know his name.  Fewer still can speak of his accomplishments.  However, a peak on our moon bears his name.

As I reflect on that fact, I wonder how many monikers given to peaks, lands, and valleys or names ascribed to historical sites belonged to men and women now broadly forgotten.

• Do you know what Cleisthenes introduced? 
• How familiar are you with Mary Anning's story? 
• If you paid attention in Sunday School or Old Testament class, you might be able to speak knowledgeably as to Huldah's contribution. 
• Just two days ago I was surprised to learn that my wife does not know of a person who I thought "everyone" knew. 
• Immediately following that conversation, a friend mentioned a well-known speaker.  Up to then, I had never heard his name. 

Similarly, only last week I learned of George Spalatin.  Spalatin rubbed shoulders with the likes of Martin Luther.  It is said of Spalatin that "there is scarcely any fact in the opening history of the Reformation which is not connected in some way with [his] name." (Wikipedia)

With the exception of Luther and Huldah, until recent days, I knew not one name mentioned in this post.  Nevertheless, those bearing those names accomplished such things as:
     - walking on the moon
     - speaking for democracy
     - impacting palaeontology
     and
     - sparking a massive reformation of a religion

Google and a few people know their names.  Nevertheless, in their own Ordinary way, they impacted the world. 

Perhaps a mountain will bear your name over 300 years after your birth; a brown sign indicating a pullout on the highway may tell a story of your life.  Who knows?  But, most likely, other than your descendants who may Google you or look for you on ancestry.com, will anyone remember you?

Are you okay with that?

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.
Romans 12:1 (The Message)