What Do I Do With This?

 

2 weeks of mail can pile up on you.  But what do you do with this?  As I was going through all my mail last night, I was overwhelmed with all the organizations that were after my pocket book. 

The problem is that they are all great causes.  World Vision, Compassion, Amnesty International, United Nations, Heifer International.  But the theme throughout was "URGENT!" or "EMERGENCY" amidst stories of death, poverty, and immense suffering.

Shell shocked is all I could be as I sat there.  I'm just one person with just a little cash.

Well, the last envelope I opened was from a child I have been sponsoring in Tanzania named Bernard Joseph Alex.  Families in his community have an average monthly income of $8.  I have been sponsoring him and watching (thru pictures and letters) him grow up now for several years.  When I came to this envelope, my countenance changed and I smiled.

And I was reminded.

You can only do what only you can do.

With the popularity of social justice today, everyone is being exposed to every sort of injustice that exists on this round earth.  We can quickly find ourselves spread too thin trying to be a part of too much.  The moment we get involved in human trafficking someone wants our money for malaria nets.  The moment we donate to disaster relief in southeast Asia someone is asking us to support the local food pantry.  The moment we sink our teeth into issues of orphan care someone asks us to give towards a water well in Africa.

The reality is that you can only do what only you can do.  By that, I mean you need to find your niche.  Your groove as my pastor calls it.  What breaks your heart?  What makes you pound the table?  What keeps you up at night?  What makes you angry?  What cause are you most passionate about? 

Find one thing, one cause to which you will devote yourself.  And give that your all.  Not just your monthly donation.  Not just that one time Christmas gift.  Give your life to it.  Your time.  Your prayers.  Your thoughts.  Your all.

God has uniquely designed each of us to accomplish something beautiful in this broken world.

You can only do what only you can do.

Comments

[brooke]

Thanks, Luke. I needed to hear this! I get overwhelmed. I have a heart that feels for compassion, a gifting towards mercy, I want to help. And I can feel like I'm pulled a hundred different ways. I need to hone. I need to zero in on the ONE THING and be devoted to it. A life of focus! Thank you for the shift back to the central hub. This is pertinent for today. For today I mail in a business proposal to my former mission organization stating what it is that causes me "to pound my fists on the table" and how it fits in with their work. You can pray for for it's reception. Blessings. -B

[AV]

i have to remind myself this ALL the time...i can change the world through my sphere of influence...without that focus its SO easy to hyperventilate and have a freak out. good post.