A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Tom Hanks is, hands down, my favorite actor. My guess is that many of you appreciate him as well for his portrayals in such iconic films as “Saving Private Ryan,” “Forrest Gump,” “Cast Away,” and “The Green Mile” to name just a few.
However, this month Hanks has a new movie coming out in which he plays a surprising character: Fred Rogers. Depending upon your age, you more likely know him as Mister Rogers.
Fred Rogers is one of the most beloved television personalities in American history. A mild-mannered, soft-spoken Presbyterian minister with a passion for children, Rogers became famous for his PBS show, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, which began airing nationally in 1968 and ran for 895 episodes.
Rogers' contribution to the program was astounding. He wrote and edited all the episodes, played the piano, wrote and sang most of the songs, created all the characters (both puppet and human), played most of the major puppet roles, hosted every episode, and produced and approved every detail of the program.
Through all of this, the show delivered gentle wisdom to generations of kids.
The film has received rave reviews. The website “Rotten Tomatoes” has given it an approval rating of 95% saying, “Much like the beloved TV personality that inspired it, ‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood’ offers a powerfully affecting message about acceptance and understanding.”
Another source, “Metacritic” gives it a weighted average score of 82 out of 100, indicating “universal acclaim.”
So what is it about this cardigan-wearing, tennis shoe-lacing figure that is so compelling? It wasn’t because he had a long-running television program or came to be recognized by millions. It was because he saw value in every person he encountered and let them know that.
And it wasn’t contrived. It was genuine.
Mr. Rogers responded to letters from his fans, stopped for photographs on the street, and spent time listening to the children and adults who wanted to share a story with him. People walked away from him with the sense that they mattered.
To be sure, Rogers will be remembered for the TV show he produced. His accomplishments were significant and special.
But he will be cherished for the ways he marked people’s lives, letting each one know that they were significant and special.
So let me ask you a question:
How will your legacy be measured?
As leaders, we’re often tempted to believe that what we will be remembered for will be our outputs – the things we accomplished, what we did.
But could it be that our truly lasting impact will be the inputs – the way we added value to people, how we loved?
As leaders, we’re tempted to believe we will be remembered for our outputs – the things we accomplished. But could it be that our lasting impact will be our inputs – the way we added value to people? How we loved?
After all, isn’t this what Jesus taught and showed? John 13:34 certainly demonstrates that. “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
You see, that’s really why Fred Rogers was so beloved…people saw a bit of Jesus in him.
I’m convinced that at the end of the day, not one person will remember a dozen words out of the hundreds of sermons I preached over the years. They won’t remember what I said.
What they will remember is how I made them feel. Whether I showed them that they mattered.
I’m convinced that at the end of the day, not one person will remember a dozen words out of the hundreds of sermons I preached over the years. What they will remember is how I made them feel.
For a more task-oriented guy like me, that doesn’t come naturally. Which is why I need to be continually allowing the Holy Spirit to refine and shape my character, asking Him to open my eyes to see the people around me as individuals made in God’s image.
There’s a good chance that you have people within your influence today who would benefit from the value you could add to them, so let me encourage you to be a bit more like Mr. Rogers. Or, more specifically, like the Jesus that shone through Mr. Rogers.
Toward that end, here are a few practical suggestions. See if they might not offer some starting points.
Be generous with your time – especially to the last and the least.
Be encouraging with your words – especially to those who seldom hear any affirmation.
Be available to listen – especially to those who simply need an attentive ear.
Be intentional about doing something for someone today to add value to them in a way that will outlive both the action itself and your own lifetime.
Recognize that there is a neighborhood for you to make beautiful. It may not be seen in the movies, but it will be seen in the memories.
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