Pastor Ken
During my recent sermon, I took the scripture from 1 Thessalonians, which mentions the Greek city of Thessaloniki. I’d traveled to that city before. Besides visiting a small chapel related to Paul’s missionary work there, I also visited a nearly 20-foot-tall statue by the sea. This statue commemorates Alexander the Great, who established the Greek Empire around 330 BCE. He is depicted riding his famed horse, Bucephalus, which accompanied him for 20 years. Nearby stands a row of spears, representing the invincible phalanx formation in Asia Minor, the Middle East, and Persia. In ancient times, Thessaloniki belonged to the Kingdom of Macedonia, Alexander’s homeland. Ascending the throne at 20, Alexander spent the next 13 years unifying the Greek states and launching eastward campaigns, toppling the Persian Empire to establish his own. However, he died at a young age of 32, and his empire was soon divided among his generals.
During travel, our guides often stop by statues of notable figures to recount how these individuals wielded immense influence in religion, military affairs, culture, or politics. When I was young, I enjoyed imitating the poses of famous statues for pictures. Later, I learned that this practice was disrespectful and hence I’ve stopped doing it.
Erecting a statue is typically intended to commemorate someone for his/her achievements, yet decisions about where and how a statue is made are influenced by politics and culture. In modern times, we’ve seen many statues of once-revered figures toppled, their legacies discredited due to shifting societal values or democratic revolutions. Some even become objects of public disdain and anger.
When I look at statues of renowned individuals, I often think about the countless unnamed people behind their success. Many of them gave up their time, effort, and even their lives, yet history has forgotten them. For example, the soldiers who followed Alexander the Great on his eastern campaigns—some left home only to perish on the battlefield. Others joined the military and were gone for years. After conquering a region, some were assigned as local officials. They settled there and never returned home. Whether they were soldiers or laborers supporting logistics, many never saw their homeland again, leaving their families uncertain about how to face the future.
In my youth, I read countless stories of heroes and famous figures. Inevitably, I dreamed of becoming a celebrity someday. As I grew older, I realized that heroism is relative, defined by an individual’s achievements for a particular nation or group. Often, heroes of invading forces brought devastation to indigenous peoples. Heroes of royal families or aristocrats frequently exacerbated the plight of commoners. When religion and politics intertwined, they exploited each other, bringing power and wealth to the heroes while leaving uneducated laborers to toil in poverty.
After all, evaluating a person should involve considering their character and morality. With this perspective, I’d rather live an ordinary life. As long as I understand the life calling I’ve received from God, seize opportunities to learn, and use my talents to contribute to humanity, I’ll be content. Being a person who loves God and others, upholds moral values, and brings joy to myself and those around me is a great fulfillment.
