A few years ago, the book "East of Eden" was suggested to me by a person I was very close to. To this day, I am thankful for that - that book has shaped me in countless ways. It gave me insight into faith, life, a grounded sense of good and evil in our lives, and the importance of choice.
This following passage from East of Eden especially has caused me to grow in myself and my faith more than any other single passage I have ever read. Maybe it needs to be read in context, but I think it can stand alone... although it needs to be read more than once.
---from East of Eden by John Steinbeck--
"It's because I haven't courage,' said Samuel. 'I could never quite take the responsibility. When the Lord God did not call my name, I might have called his name - but I did not. There you have the difference between greatness and mediocrity. It's not an uncommon disease. But it's nice for a mediocre man to know that greatness must be the loneliest state in the world.'
'I'd think there are degrees of greatness,' Adam said.
'I don't think so,' said Samuel. 'That would be like saying there is a little bigness. No. I believe when you come to that responsibility the hugeness and you are alone to make your choice. On one side you have warmth and companionship and sweet understanding, and on the other - cold, lonely greatness. There you make your choice. I'm glad I chose mediocrity, but how am I to say what reward might have come with the other? None of my children will be great either, except perhaps Tom. He's suffering over the choosing right now. It's a painful thing to watch. And somewhere in me I want him to say yes. Isn't that strange? A father to want his son condemned to greatness! What selfishness that must be."
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