So many organizations, so much need, too little helpers. What are we doing? Reading on the internet about some causes that I am drawn to, I realized once again one thing: There is a lot to do, and it seems very few of us are helping. It is overwhelming of how much need there is out there. It makes me consider what is really important, and what are we doing with our resources.
There is a quote by Dante that says: “The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.” The essence of this statement is not a truth about theology or biblical principle, but that it is actually worst for men and women that see the wrong and do nothing, and say nothing when their voice, their hands and their leadership is needed. Being motionless is even worst than the wrong deed or the perpetrators of them.
What are you doing? In the parable of the good samaritan, religious leaders walked by a man that had been beaten and left for dead and did nothing. Only a samaritan, despised by those same leaders, had compassion, crossed over and did something. Compassion is not compassion until you cross the street and help. We all feel moved when we see need, or read about touching stories, but it means nothing unless you take action. There is no difference between the religious leaders of the parable and us, if we keep walking.
There is a story of a boy that was at the beach after a high tide had brought hundreds or even thousands of starfish to shore. The boy started to pick one by one and threw them back into the sea. A man that was passing by and saw the boy asked him. What are you doing?, the boy replied “I am saving the starfish”. The man looked at him and said, “there are thousands of them here, you can’t make a difference”, the boy looked at the man with fierce eyes and picked up another starfish, and with an even stronger effort he threw it back into the water and said, “I made a difference for that one.”
Jesus himself said that the harvest was great, but there was not enough workers. We should pray and ask the owner of the harvest to send more workers, but we should ponder very intently if it is us who should respond to that calling. And more importantly, to what calling we should respond to. There is much to do, that sometimes it is overwhelming. But you might be able to do a lot from where you are, from the platform you have been planted in.
Let’s change the world, one starfish at a time, one life at a time. It does make a difference. So, what are you doing?
“BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE Boldly”
Here are some of the causes: Compassion International, A21 Campaign, Stellas Voice, International Justice Mission, Alive Generation and many others here.
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© Copyright DP, 2011
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
BREATHE expectantly, LIVE confidently and MOVE boldly 