"Make What Difference We Can...."

Last night, President Barak Obama delivered his State of the Union Address--the first address of his historic second term.  He shared a lot about what is good about America and laid out his agenda for accomplishing those things we still need to work on.  Most importantly, he issued a critical call to action for each of us.  

The call to action I am referring to was not found in his powerful, repetitive declaration about all who "deserve a vote" regarding gun control.  While I certainly agree that we all deserve a vote, I contend that the real, full-scale call to action came when he explained,

"Indeed, no laws, no initiatives, no administrative acts will perfectly solve all 
the challenges I’ve outlined tonight.  But we were never sent here to be perfect.                                                                           We were sent here to make what difference we can...."

Partisan politics might cloud our ability to hear this simple yet profound challenge, but if we are serious about doing our part to make this world a better place, those of us who know God's Word should have heard:

Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, be at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18)

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men. (Colossians 3:23)

You are the salt of the earth....(Matthew 5:13)

Each of us has a divine assignment and we have been given all of the tools to accomplish our assignment.  We are not all the President of the United States, but we all have a sphere of influence for which we will be held accountable.

Prayerfully, we are using our influence, skills, talents and time to point people toward Christ, to point people toward healing and wholeness, to point them toward love and not hate.

As we sit on the eve of Valentine's Day, the day designated for expressing love, let's look for opportunities to commit random acts of kindness, especially to strangers.  Who knows if a little more love and kindness might be just enough to deter someone from taking their own life or the lives of others?  Who knows if a compliment or helping hand might be just the encouragement someone needs to make it through the day?

We shouldn't expect politicians to completely shoulder the brunt of finding ways to make us behave more civilized toward one another, nor should we seethe and blame them for our every woe if they don't govern the way we expect them to.  

The apostle Paul said, "I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:12-13)

Regardless of the state of the economy, and regardless of who is to blame for it's failure or success, when it comes to living day-to-day on the ground level, there are opportunities all around us to share the love of Christ.  And, it is in the strength of Christ that  we will accomplish far more than we could ask or imagine if we just remember that we were sent here to make what difference WE can.

BNcouraged!

Rev. Karen