Ordinary, Yet Extraordinary
The anticipation in me had been building for years, since around 2007 to be exact.
On an ordinary day, April 27th 2023, I had arrived. Having traveled more than eight hours the previous day, I was excited to be attending a conference called the Eagles Innovate Experience in Franklin, Tennessee. I had been a part of an online community of like-minded, entrepreneurial driven folks for quite some time, the 48 Days Eagles. I was looking forward to meeting many of them in person, including the founder, bestselling author Dan Miller.
Arriving early at the conference, there was no fan fair, no red carpet – just a handful of folks waiting to get in the door like I was, including Dan Miller, his wife Joanne and a few others. I introduced myself and we made our way to the location for the meetings we would be participating in for the day. I noticed something right off that, deep down, I already knew – these were just ordinary people here to share life together, just like me. Dan Miller was no exception.
But let me tell you one of the things that made that day extraordinary for me.
You see, I had been living with a dream to write a book for many years. Seven months prior to attending that event, I had completed the first draft of my manuscript. In the Eagles community, Dan was so gracious, helping me make the connections possible to bring my book to reality. I still have the handwritten card Dan sent me at that time with a personal note from him saying, “Let’s get that book published!”
To make a long story short, we did in fact get my book published, and I had a signed copy of it in my hand to personally deliver to Dan, a small token of my appreciation for all his help. Dan was so gracious to pose with me (and my book!) for a picture!
It was at that moment that Dan and I, along with a growing crowd of people, just carried on, setting up chairs, getting ready for the day’s event. There we were, just ordinary people, working together, preparing for a day of extraordinary training, connections and fellowship together.
Yes, I was blessed to have picked up Dan’s book, 48 Days to the Work You Love in 2007, which led me to make some serious life decisions afterwards and many more since. But over the course of time, I’ve learned that Dan, in all of his humility, was just an ordinary guy doing extraordinary things.
On Sunday, January 21, 2024, after living his life so faithfully serving others, Dan Miller passed from this life into the presence of the Lord, where he was welcomed with open arms as the angels rejoiced.
May the legacy of Dan Miller continue to live on through the untold number of ordinary people, just like me, whose lives have been impacted forever.
Well done, good and faithful servant.