Thursday; October 31

On this date in 1941, Mount Rushmore was declared completed – well, as completed as it was going to be.  The massive work of art in the Black Hills of South Dakota took more than a decade to get to this point and after the death of Gutzon Borglum in March, 1941, enough was enough.  Although there were parts of the project that were planned and never completed, it still stands as a Shine to Democracy.  The images on the mountain, Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt represent the legacy of the development of the American people.  When I look at Mount Rushmore I see a mini Hall of Influence.  Each of those enshrined in the carving shaped what our nation is today.  

Who would be on your personal Mount Rushmore?  Who are the influences that have made you who you are today?  While we may like the concept of self-made people, there are always those who either directly or indirectly steered our development.  Have you ever stopped to think about who these people are in your life?  Maybe a more pressing question is have you expressed to them your appreciation for what they have done?  If these people are still alive, I encourage you to search them out and tell them.  If they have passed, why not get in touch with their descendants and tell them about how their ancestor influenced you. 

If you haven’t seen Mount Rushmore, I think it is worth the trip to Southwestern South Dakota.  But, even if you never get there, I think reflecting on our influences is worth the effort.  Not only will it remind us of what is important to us, but it might also help us remember how important it is to pass those lessons on to others. 

Think About It!

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