Everyone wants to be an influencer. Everywhere you look, someone is trying hard to be discovered, to break out, to be the next top seller at something. Think of how many cooking shows there are where everyone wants to gain fame as the next Gordon Ramsay. Or how about the amount of people who go on Survivor or Big Brother just to get their big break in TV or movies. Take a scroll through Tik-Tok or Instagram or YouTube to see the proliferation of people thinking, this one post could be the one!

We All Want to Be Somebody

Today, there is this great desire to be somebody, to gain the praise of millions, to become media famous. Everyone wants to make their mark on the world, be it for a moment or a lifetime. I think it’s quite natural to want to make a lasting mark, to leave behind a legacy, to create a name that will be remembered forever. We all want to believe that there is more to our lives than our meager, daily existence. We want to feel like we’ve delivered some kind of awe-inspiring message to the world.

We’re all looking for a way to stand out, to be noticed for something, to be remembered for something.

But is it possible to make a name for ourselves and influence people without ever becoming famous?

Not only is it possible, it’s even more important than having your name in lights.

Who Were Your Influencers?

Think back on your life and the people who most influenced it. I’m sure everyone can name a person, or two, or five, who greatly impacted their life and future. Of course, for many, our parents come first and foremost to our minds, but who else? I think of my 3rd grade teacher, Mrs. Bizup, who encouraged my writing from an early age. She probably has no idea what a huge difference that encouragement made in my life. There was my 9th grade history teacher, Mr. Webb, who sparked in me an interest of history, archaeology, religion, and world cultures. My college professors, Dr. and Dr. Heidler, truly refined my love for history and research. My dear friend, Jan, encouraged and supported my calling to lead pilgrimages. Add to that list, my grandparents, whom I strive to emulate every day of my life.

Not one of those people ever became famous. Not one of them would be recognized by more than a small group of people. Not one of them did anything earth-shattering. Yet they all had a profound impact on making me the person I am today—wife, mother, daughter, Christian, writer, researcher, and explorer.

As I think about this, I can’t help but think about St. Bartholomew. We know little about him other than something transpired under a fig tree that led Jesus to deem him an honorable and trustworthy man, and that he was also known as Nathaniel. That’s not much to go on and certainly not enough to lead us to believe that he ever did anything great or impactful.

On the other hand, we know that he was one of the Chosen Twelve, an Apostle, a pillar of the Church, one of the first Christian martyrs. Does it really matter that we know little else? Does it matter that he wasn’t one of the Gospel writers, that only one verbal exchange is accredited to him in the Bible, that he wasn’t an epistle writer or noted orator?

I would argue that it does not and that the only thing that truly matters is that he made a difference to those who knew him. As an apostle, anointed with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, Bartholomew would have been an evangelist, a preacher, a seeker and doer. Perhaps he convinced his entire family to follow Christ. Perhaps he persuaded entire villages to become followers. Certainly he spread the message far and wide, as all the Apostles were known to have done.

Is he any less important, with less of a message, than the others because we don’t know more than his name and reputation? Is St. Jude or St. Thomas, only known as the one who doubted (don’t get me started on the injustice there)?

Is Fame the Same as Importance?

Are you and I any less important because we aren’t heralded by the masses? Does what we say and do really matter?

Take a moment to think about those whom you have influenced. There are undoubtedly more than you know or believe. Just Because you don’t star in a reality show or have millions of fans on Instagram does not mean you are not important or have not made an impact on the world.

I challenge you to ask yourself what matters more: If I have reached the pinnacle of fame and fortune or if I greatly influenced but one person with just the small things I’ve done throughout my life?

You are child of God. That alone means you have the ability to influence others, even if it’s just one person. As St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”

Copyright 2026 Amy Schisler

Photos copyright 2026 Amy Schisler, all rights reserved.