Hands to Work, Hearts to God

Most people just want to be happy, to have a good family, good job, good children, and not be bothered by trials- whether at home or at work or in their church. We think that as long as we’re not hurting anybody, we’re in a good place. Unfortunately, the minute we make happiness our goal, like the proverbial butterfly we try to catch, it’s not going land on our shoulder. If we just want to live for ourselves, fulfill our dreams, plan our life to accomplish our goals, it’s not going to happen. Somewhere along the line, we’re going to ask, where did I go wrong? We’re going to say to God, "Why me? I’m here, minding my own business, taking care of my family, living life in a "good" way, not doing anybody any harm, why am I not happy? Why is my wife/my husband not happy? Why?"

When Dr. Karl Menninger, founder of the Menninger Clinic was asked, "What should you do if you feel a nervous breakdown coming on?" he replied: "Lock the door of your house, go across the street, and do something to help your neighbor."

God’s ways are not our ways. God’s economies are not our economies. God’s solutions are not our solutions. If we lack money, we should tithe and tithe generously. If we are not happy, we should go and make someone happy. If we need something, we should give something away. If we are constantly harassed and feel there isn’t enough time to do all we have to do, we should give more time for prayer. If we lack confidence, we should make somebody feel good about themselves.

There is a smart saying that goes anything that’s wrong with you can be fixed by a change in me. We can bring that into a broader perspective and say anything that’s wrong with the world can be fixed by a change in me. You might say we can’t do anything about terrorists or the recession. But that’s not how God thinks. He asks for our loaves and fishes, what we have right now, right here, and he multiplies that and blesses it until we have more than enough to change the world and our perspective. Right here and right now, that is what God is asking for.

There are many volunteer opportunities near where you live. We may think that there’s a lot of things wrong with the world, but when you see how people are helping people, these are the loaves and fishes that will save our countries. Helping others who need help is what will save us.

Here are some suggestions on how we can do something that is bigger than you and me!

Fund raise for a good cause. Do some house building with Habitat for Humanity or Gawad Kalinga. Clean up your house and donate your clothes, books, etc. to charitable institutions. Tutor some street kids. Clean up a dirty bit of beach, a playground or whatever needs cleaning or sprucing up. Visit the sick, the poor, the prisoners. Bring a reusable bag with you when shopping. Let's do what we can, where we are, with what we have!