On Achievement and Accomplishment.

As I get older, reflections of the past appear to me, and it becomes so much clearer that sometimes things work, sometimes they do not. That sounds simple, but as the images cross my vision, I see how we play our roles in events — different roles at different times — and things we thought our unique responsibility or our own fault are often shared by others in the same roles.

            I have known crooks and players, saints and spectators, and many bewildered souls caught up in actions predictable or unpredictable, but often cyclic in nature. And here I include myself.

            Recently I read that to unclutter your house you must first determine your values in life. (I do need to declutter my house). A list of possible values was provided — a very long list — containing everything from love to money to achievement.  Among these possibilities, the word ‘achievement’ caught my eye. ‘Accomplishment’ wasn’t offered as a value. What, I wondered, is the difference between achievement and accomplishment?

            If achievement is the attainment of some great and noble effect, accomplishment seems to have a wider meaning. The dictionary describes accomplishment as a process, an act of completion or fulfilment — as, a promise or a prophecy — the Latin at the back of this is the word absolvo, which is literally to loosen — as, bonds — to give freedom, to acquit — as, of guilt — but also to relate or narrate: to tell the story.

            The Easter story of Jesus’ death and resurrection brings the question: did Jesus achieve the salvation of humanity, or did he accomplish it? To be sure, it was the great and noble deed. Yet his words, in St. John’s Gospel, ‘It is accomplished’ mean also fulfilled, perfected, absolutely done. So I think it is both.

            Not all of us can achieve greatness. But we can attain accomplishment. Another meaning of ‘an accomplishment’ is an art, skill or grace acquired by the perfecting of our abilities, leading to humanitas: true human feeling, kindness and refinement of human nature. Our faith in Jesus Christ is such an accomplishment, accompanied by grace: like art, music, and poetry, it leads to fulfilment of the meaning of human life, for ourselves and for others.