The Measure of Greatness

Hugh Steven holding a caopy of his memori

My wife’s father never knew his mother (or his dad).
But lest you think he had it bad,
Hugh was hewn out of the kind of quarry
that is known for priceless stone.
Rock that is not easily crushed.
Rock that reflects beauty having been polished by pressure.
Rock on which legends are built.

Although he’d never know his birth parents,
and although he was treated as a Cinderfella by his adopted family,
he knew a Heavenly Father’s love.

Spiritually Hugh grew deep in his understanding
of God’s grace and guidance.
Physically, he grew tall and strong
towering over his adoptive family.
Intellectually he grew weary of weak logic and short answers
while contemplating life’s mysteries.
Socially, he grew increasingly uncomfortable in large public settings,
punctuated by small talk.

He grew to love solitude with his countless “friends”
that lined the bookshelves of his beloved office.
And speaking of books, he authored 35 (mostly biographies)
in addition to hundreds of magazine articles.
To research the content for his various publications,
Hugh traveled internationally often for weeks at a time.

Although denied a traditional home life,
he with his wife of nearly 74 years created a loving legacy
celebrated by four children, eleven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
And when you add it all up, the bottom line is clearly
the measure of greatness.

* Hugh Steven passed away a few days after Resurrection Sunday 2025. Peace to his memory!

** Hugh Steven’s memoir “Looking for God in the Shadows” is available through Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Looking-GOD-Shadows-Hugh-Steven/dp/1716116058

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