My person of the decade.
With 2010 almost over, it's time to say goodbye to the decade, a year late. Technically speaking, wasn't 2000 the first year of this decade and 2009, the last? I might be wrong. It's all very confusing. Regardless, I want to tell you who my person of the decade is.
And let's say first of all, you have to say Jesus. In the same way that the Bible is the book you bring to a deserted island, Jesus is who you'd have dinner with if you could have dinner with any person ever. So this other person I think is the person of the decade is in addition to Jesus.
Who is it?
Good question. He actually left a comment on this site today. His comment started with this phrase, "Acuff, speaking as someone who has known you for 25+ years …"
And that is an awesome phrase. What a gift it is to be known. For someone you ate lunch with on the first day of fourth grade to still know your spot on this planet and what you're trying to do with it. I am known by my friends in Hudson, Massachusetts and though I don't do anywhere near a good of job showing gratefulness for that, I consider that a treasure.
But I want you to know the person who wrote that, my person of the decade.
His name is Dave Bruce and his story needs to start from a text my mom sent me a few months ago.
Here is an excerpt of what she wrote:
"Pat told me David Bruce is donating one of his kidneys to Matt. Thought you'd want to know. Love you. Mom."
There are days, maybe even whole weeks where I feel I am living a generous life. There are moments where I feel gracious and humble and giving.
And then there are moments where your mom tells you that your friend Dave is donating a kidney to your friend Matt.
I don't want to over dramatize this, but there is little drama is telling the truth. Matt would have eventually died without Dave's kidney. Dave saved a life this fall. And I never heard about it except from my mom. I sometimes write tweets when I've been generous enough to let someone else in front of me in traffic at the mall. Dave gave away a kidney and didn't say a word. And this wasn't his first superhuman act. During a great family tragedy, he was the glue that bound everyone together at a time when most kids his age are playing frisbee on a college campus.
I know you don't know Dave Bruce, but there's a Dave somewhere in your life too. Someone who gave more than was expected, worked harder than anyone thought possible, cared more than you thought one person could.
Today I just want to say "Thanks Dave." Today, I want to give you some space to say, "Thank you" to your person of the decade. That's it.
How would you fill in this blank,
"Thank you ___________, you are my person of the decade."
