There is no shortage of stories about how one person,
one moment, one action, or one word can make an enormous
difference in the world. And yet for many people - with the
demands of work and home, the increasing pace of life, and the
scope of issues going on in the world - it can easily make us
question just how much difference one person can make.
Through our own fears and doubts, we can easily begin to
create a sense of insignificance in our lives. Our routines,
responsibilities and disappointments tend to beat us up over
the years and cloud our vision for just how significant we
really are. Many of us spend so much time running through the
motions, searching for "purpose," or to find our "calling" or
"spiritual gifts," that we often focus too much on "searching"
rather than "doing." It's almost as if we are looking for a
manual for our lives that details exactly what we are supposed
to do and how we are supposed to do it.
While the manual does exist, many times we ignore it...
wanting to create our own life plan instead of recognizing the
opportunities set in front of us every day. God has blessed
each one of us with our own unique talents and abilities but
He wants us to take action, to step out in faith and allow Him
to use and develop our gifts to server His kingdom on Earth.
God wants us to trust in Him, to seek His awesome power and to
share His love with others, one person at a time. If God laid
out a road map and said, "Hey Bob, this is your gift and here
is what I want you to do with it.," then there would be no
need for faith.
All too often, we think we have to do something HUGE to
make a difference but in reality, it is the smaller things
that lead to greatness. Just as one match can ignite a forest
fire of epic proportions, one mans vision, followed by his
action, can positively impact the lives of many. Like a rock
tossed into a pond, the ripples of one act can stretch out
beyond our wildest dreams... but we have to take action to
toss the rock into to pond.
Mother Theresa said it best, "If you want to change the
world, pick up a broom."
Take for instance Abraham Lincoln, or Thomas Jefferson -
who, like many others - were more or less "normal people, just
doing their jobs," but when opportunities arose, they sprang
to the occasion - not always perfectly, and very often in
smaller ways, with day by day decisions and actions, that
added up to the lifetime achievements that we know them for
today. Those were their paths, their journey, their purposes.
I doubt they sat back in their easy chairs searching for their
gifts but instead they took action everyday and allowed God to
bring their gifts to light through faith, determination and
perseverance.
When my wife and I started GiftOfKindness.com a few years
ago, we did not sit back searching for purpose, we acted and
trusted God and asked Him to give us the strength and the
wisdom to do His will. Now, a site that started out as more or
less of a fun side project has grown to an initiative we would
have never thought possible. It started with a vision followed
by action and now GiftOfKindness.com receives over 1500
request for our free "Kindness Cards," each week, from people
all over the globe. Now, I don't tell you this to brag or
boast but to reinforce the point that some times we have to
step back and let God guide us where he wants us to go, but
being willing to walk through the hallway when he opens the
door.
Be reminded of one thing: one person can make a lot of
difference. And any one of us can be the person who does, the
leader who does, the entrepreneur who does, the writer who
does, and so on. There are many ways, all within your reach.
It just begins with a conscious choice to make a positive
impact, trust in God and taking action. It all unfolds from
there.
Until next time... Be Kind.
-Daniel
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