Greatness

It is not appropriate to measure one’s greatness
By evaluating one’s morality.
By assessing his adherence to certain religious beliefs
Or to experience his talents or personal strengths.

We are not obligated to judge his passions
We simply ask “is one better off to have known this man?”
And, then and only then if the answer is a resounding “yes”
Do we know the answer to our question of greatness.

For a man’s greatness is only measured
By whether those touched
Are better off to have known him at all.

My father was an imperfect man.
He had his faults and made poor choices.
But he was truly a great man,
For I have never met a person whose life was not made better
By simply having known my father.