Making a difference is an opportunity and a calling, and often pulls on skills and resources we already have. And it’s SO easy sometimes, when God lines up the circumstances.
My sermon benediction yesterday was going to be freeform, but as I closed my door walking out of the house, I spotted the bag of charms I have been moving around for years, starfish trinkets. Of course the Lord had me notice it then and connect the dots in my head about a sermon of the whole body, all of us together, being the best we can be and helping others. All for the glory of God…
And so my benediction spoke about how each of us can help, not necessarily even knowing who or the results of our helping is. Oh how we can help just one person and that makes all the difference in their life.
And then I relayed the story of the child throwing the starfish back into the water… (see below)
Yes if we just help one starfish, one person, one mission, we are blessed to do that. And assuredly God will find others for us to help too. And surely, we have been helped by others…
And most crucially, I addressed in my sermon that if we introduce people to God, our reflection of His loving character shone through us, it’s like bringing in family, sheep of God’s fold, yes…
Yes, God loves them
I appreciated seeing so many people at the after church event for the community helping pack school snack bags for the kids in the homeless shelter, they really shined love and I enjoyed chatting with a lady at the beginning of the line, as we fluffed open the bags, we chatted about her family and a baby shower coming up. I was happy to search the score of the football game for her. Nice…
And how sweet the little kids who came to help. And then one little boy had just had enough, became restless naturally. It was easy remedy thought and action for me, I was right next to the cabinet of markers, paper, stickers. I mean everybody loves markers! Everybody loves stickers! And so the little boy nestled into his work and mom kept continuing being able to pack the bags. Simple sense of the Spirit… later, as we almost finished, I was able to show him the small pumpkin I had made (carved a heart in) for the message for the earlier service. He asked if he could color it. And I, of course, said yes. And then he decorated it is stickers in paper, and was SO proud. Mom was so worried that he was doing something he shouldn’t have, but I was so happy to oblige a child. And I made sure that there was paper underneath his coloring, so it wouldn’t bleed through to the tablecloth.
Isn’t that what the Lord does for us? He helps us in small ways. And He also helps us in big ways. God certainly keeps us busy. And when we say “look what I’ve done, He us always listening in love.
The little boy asked at the very end when it was time to leave, if he could take the pumpkin, and I was very happy to let him take it. His mom was in slight shock, but what easy giving… I even handed him the paper that said, how God helps us. That being a christian is like being a pumpkin…
This was at the most less than an hour of my day and yet like throwing one seed or many seeds, we get to bless and feel blessed. It was nothing special, I just showed up. And I knew where the stuff was. It’s just using your natural talents to notice what God puts in front of you.
And so here is the Starfish story to encourage you to look for those easy projects because you know it will make a difference, and God knows the results, that’s okay with me…
Okay Lord and Amen
The Starfish Story
(Adapted)
Original by Loren Eiseley
1907-1977
Once upon a time, there was a wise man who used to go to the ocean to do his writing. He had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work.
One day, as he was walking along the shore, he looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled to himself at the thought of someone who would dance during the day, and so, he walked faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young child reaching down to the shore, picking up small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.
He came closer still and called out “Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?”
The young one paused, looked up, and replied “Throwing starfish into the ocean.”
“I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” said the somewhat startled wise man.
To this, the young one replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”
Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, “But, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”
At this, the young one bent down, picked up yet another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. And as it met the water, said : “I made a difference for that one.”
