At the rise of a new year, so many of us set grand resolutions of things to be accomplished. Usually, let’s be honest, those resolutions are fairly self-centred: loose weight, get a new job, make myself more comfortable / happy, etc… All good and noble pursuits.
But have you considered, as you approach 2012, how many of your pursuits are of eternal significance? Among all that you are aiming for this year, have you allowed space to contribute to the world in a meaningful way?
Even for the most committed of us, it is very easy to let the passion wane while we focus on the immediate demands of life. I am known by my friends as the one with the grand and passionate aspirations to ‘save the world’. And yet, in my present state of mind I could very easily lay aside the convictions that have stirred my heart in the past, relegate them to a ‘not relevant at the moment’ shelf, and comfortably pursue my many other, perfectly noble, desires. You know, the ones that don’t require too much investment, or my heart to be open to the deep discomfort of being broken by a cause so much bigger than me.
Given that you are reading the Metamorphic blog, it is my suspicion that you, like me, have already had your heart stirred by a cause that calls for your sacrifice.
And, because life is what it is, I would bet that there are times when the everyday distractions of life have shone brighter in your vision than the deep convictions that have stirred your heart.
And I wonder where you are placed on that journey as you begin this new year.
It seems to me that passion and purpose require intentional pursuit; they are not often our default disposition. As I drag my reluctant brain out of holiday time, I am very aware of the need to remind myself again of the things that are most important.
My first step to that end is to keep myself in the path of information, and be aware of what is happening in the world. Information like the fact that more than 3.5 million people die each year from preventable illnesses because they lack access to clean water, and 84% of those deaths are in children under the age of 14. That’s about 1 in every 8 people in the world.
And then I remember that all of the statistics and stories, news footage and photos, represent fellow humans, just like me. Imagine 1 in 8 people in your neighbourhood dying from a lack of clean water! Although those who suffer across our world may look different to me, when I have held their hands, sat in their homes, looked in their eyes, and listened to their stories, I have seen hearts no different to my own. It is a deep awareness of our common humanity – our common, and God-ordained, value – that keeps my heart soft.
I think that Jesus was also connecting to this idea of a common humanity when he said, ‘For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me… When you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ (Matthew 25:35-40).
What interests me is that this encouragement immediately follows the parable of the talents, where Jesus admonishes us not to bury the talents and resources that we’ve been given, no matter how small they seem (Matthew 25:14-30). Though the need is great, we are never asked to give beyond what we have. But if I can invest a talent, or a dollar, or an hour of my time to champion the cause of the oppressed, do I not have a responsibility to do so?
The exciting news is that the seemingly small and insignificant actions that we take can have powerful and lasting impact, when we work together. Just think, a mere $20 can provide 4 people with water for life!
There are a whole bunch of precious lives soon to be turned from powerlessness and despair to hope and a future, through the work of Metamorphic this year. And it is your support that makes this possible.
There are many ways that you can partner with us in 2012. Firstly, we would love you to share our blog, Facebook and Twitter posts with your own networks. You can also partner financially, or contribute your skills and resources to one of our projects, such as Water 4 Water. We invite you to take a look at our website for information on our projects and, if something strikes a chord, we would love to hear from you.
We pray that you have an abundantly blessed, fulfilled and purposeful 2012. May it be your best year yet!
Tags: Tags: 2012, Planning, Priorities, Resolutions
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Love it Melissa! A very inspiring post
Comment by Tim Humble on January 19, 2012 at 11:53 pm
you are a gem Melissa, keep caring…
Comment by lindsay clarke on February 2, 2012 at 5:08 am