I've been watching Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", and at one point Quasimodo sings about his life in the tower over against the people down below. He sings that "every day they go about their lives, heedless of the gift it is to be them." In that instance I can identify with Quasi. I have been cooped up in my apartment for 3+ months, following surgery. I sit and watch other people, able to walk, able to get in and out of their cars, able to just take a quick step up onto the curb, and they go about their days without a thought to how amazing it is that they can get up and go. I think most of us, until we can't, just go about our lives as though what we do is perfectly normal, unaware that there are persons who live entirely differently: some can't hear, some can't see, some can't walk, some can barely move, some don't have running water, heat, or electricity, some can't access education, some are food insecure, some are without shelter. It's easy to just live our lives on and on without giving a thought to those who live differently, and what we might be able to do to help them to live better and/or easier.
I'm reminded of the friends who brought one of their friends to Jesus for healing. First of all it's amazing that he had such good friends, who would take time out of their lives to care for him. But when they couldn't get to Jesus the easy way, they hauled him onto the roof, and lowered him down. Nothing would stand in the way of their helping this man to stand and walk again. There are so many needs in the world that it's easy to become discouraged, but like the story of the kid on the beach throwing the starfish back into the sea: we may not be able to help everyone, but we can make a difference in the life of one.
Loving God, we know that you are God over all the world, and often we wonder why it is that some seem to be more blessed than others. Scripture tells us that from those to whom much is given, much will be required. Keep our hearts and minds open to ways that we, who have been given so much, can assist others in living their lives to the fullest. Even if what we can do is pray for them or be in contact so they don't feel isolated, all the way to going and digging wells or fixing homes. Give us grace to be aware day by day "what a gift it is to be [us]".......Amen
I'm reminded of the friends who brought one of their friends to Jesus for healing. First of all it's amazing that he had such good friends, who would take time out of their lives to care for him. But when they couldn't get to Jesus the easy way, they hauled him onto the roof, and lowered him down. Nothing would stand in the way of their helping this man to stand and walk again. There are so many needs in the world that it's easy to become discouraged, but like the story of the kid on the beach throwing the starfish back into the sea: we may not be able to help everyone, but we can make a difference in the life of one.
Loving God, we know that you are God over all the world, and often we wonder why it is that some seem to be more blessed than others. Scripture tells us that from those to whom much is given, much will be required. Keep our hearts and minds open to ways that we, who have been given so much, can assist others in living their lives to the fullest. Even if what we can do is pray for them or be in contact so they don't feel isolated, all the way to going and digging wells or fixing homes. Give us grace to be aware day by day "what a gift it is to be [us]".......Amen
RSS Feed
