We set off tomorrow. Leah and Sarah and myself. We were supposed to go last Tuesday, but some of the people that had prayed were uneasy and we wondered if maybe the timing was off. Leah, Sarah and I still felt like we were supposed to go, but others felt like we weren’t at that time. So we pushed it back until tomorrow. But in the meantime, God has spoke volumes to me about myself and how He sees me. Recently, I have been wondering why I do what I have been doing. Why am I here? What is missions and does it work? And if it doesn’t work then why not?
The other day, Sarah, Leah and I set off to go picking up garbage on the beach here in Gordon’s Bay. Call it being too antsy or just wanting to do something productive, but we set out and filled up three large trash bags that afternoon. It seemed like we made little difference as we could not get all or even most of the trash that day. But then I began to think of the difference between me and someone who would say it wasn’t worth it. The difference is that they lack hope. Do I hope that someday that beach would be really clean? Sure, but more than that, the day was about regaining hope. Hope in humanity and hope in God’s providential care of us.
I remember a story I am sure we have all heard about a boy who was running up and down the beach grabbing starfishes off the shore and flinging them back into the water. An older gentleman watched for a while and then went up to the boy.
“You won’t be able to save them all,” he said matter or factly to the child, “It doesn’t matter.”
The boy studied him for a moment and then continued his work as he said back over his shoulder to the man, “It mattered to that one.”
Funny thing is, that I have been both characters. I have done these things that God has appointed for me to do and at other times in my life, I have been the critic to those around me. But the true of the matter is this:
YOU MATTER TO GOD. AND IT MATTERS TO YOU.
I thought that my affect on the beach was nothing more than doing something good but it goes beyond that. It doesn’t matter what it accomplished as long as I was obedient to what God called me to. Maybe it didn’t clean up the whole beach but others saw me and that helps. Not because I want credit or glory, but because humanity notices that others still care and it makes them care. The other night, our team went out to eat at a little restaurant on the beach area before we three left. The waiter was friendly and engaged in some normal conversation before he said, ‘I saw you cleaning up the beach the other day. Thanks.”
Amazing how the tings that are so simple to you can make people believe in humanity. Not saying that that is what happened but not saying that it didn’t either. Here is the charge to those of you reading this. If each one of us decides to care and do something about things, then someone else will too. You are the start to something amazing and wonderful! Just do it. The difference between the young boy and the old man was this: perspective and hope. Get the right perspective and ask God for the hope. Because that man you visit in the hospital or the girl you comfort or that family that you raise, it matters to them. This is not a guilt trip. Too much of who we are is about doing doing doing instead of being. But God is also showing me that in the obedience of reacting to who He is, things change. And sometimes when life is so tiring and scary, it is just nice to know that someone walked where we are walking now.
