Monday, December 8, 2008

I can't, again

I can't do it.

I can't keep someone from making a poor decision. I can't help everywhere I see the need for it. I can't change the weather when people are too broke to pay for heat. I can see the hurt hearts and broken hearts and blind hearts in pain. I can see the needs around me but I just can't help them all. I can't hardly do anything for anyone right now. My resources have been limited again.

It's discouraging to the point of tears sometimes.

I can't be anything other than what I am. I'm not rich enough, powerful enough, strong enough, smart enough - or whatever "enough" it is - to do what I think would be good for me or those around me.

There is a reason for this.

1 Corinthians 1

25 [This is] because the foolish thing [that has its source in] God is wiser than men, and the weak thing [that springs] from God is stronger than men.

26 For [simply] consider your own call, brethren; not many [of you were considered to be] wise according to human estimates and standards, not many influential and powerful, not many of high and noble birth.

27 [No] for God selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame, and what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame.

28 And God also selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is lowborn and insignificant and branded and treated with contempt, even the things that are nothing, that He might depose and bring to nothing the things that are...

I have to remember it's not my job to heal the world, only to love those brought to me the best I can while they are with me. This day, this person, this one thing they need help with or I need help with.

If it is only to listen while they let go of the hurt in their day, I can do that. I can't change what is hurting them, though and that has weighed on my heart so very much these last months.

Now - how is someone to see the invisible love working in their life if every time they have a need or a hurt they only see a human helping? If everything that happens in life makes sense, follows a pattern, fits our view of the world we keep thinking humans are all there is.

How can the Divine Love show it exists if it's always a strong person addressing the need? Someone with resources to spare and a heart to use them can make a real difference in this world. I believe we are to love and care for each other here. But that isn't all there is.

It's the letter from an old friend with a check in it. It's meeting just the doctor you need in an elevator. Meeting a person in line at the store and finding out they know a perfect job for you; Finding exactly what you needed sitting on the corner for free....

The Love brings these things to you through others that have no way to know there is a need. You see it every day in your life and those around you. I believe that is The Divine Love in action.

For me God's middle name is "Coincidence".