The following questions appeared in one of my recent studies.
How does God use times of transition to accomplish His Purposes? How has He done this in your life?
These two questions demanded my immediate attention and answer.
I sense this growing tension in our country. When I think of America, I can’t help but equate the country with the sum of its people. What I’ve concluded is that our people are hurting.
Times of transition bring reflection, change, uncertainty, fear, and anger… When life spins out of control people finally come to admit life is out of their control. This stark reality drives them to seek refuge, protection, deliverance…
This reminds me of the story of the Starfish Thrower. A young boy is taking an early morning walk on the beach. The tide had gone out quickly that day leaving behind thousands of Starfish abandoned on the shore.
The young boy began picking them up one by one. One by one he would throw them back into the ocean. “You cannot hope to save all the Starfish,” says an old man who had been watching. “Your efforts are wasted here.”
Undaunted, the young boy bent down and picked up another Starfish. He turned to the old man with a smile as he threw the Starfish back into the ocean, “I made a difference for that one!”
This story left me with more questions to answer. Which character in the story do I most relate to? Would I be the old man or would I join the young boy?
As I bent over to pick up a Starfish, I smiled at the boy. I drew back my arm and cast the Starfish back into the ocean. The boy smiled back, “We made a difference for that one.” As I bent down to pick up another starfish, I smiled back, we sure did!
Christ writes a calling into each life story; it is our purpose to live it out.
“Lord, may I be a good and faithful servant, lighting a pathway to you; one Starfish at a time.”
Sparrow’s Song Ps 108: 1-6