“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” Albert Schweitzer
This is my first official blog post, and I suppose this quote is the whole reason for me wanting to write a blog. For as long as I can remember I have been able to sense when people are struggling, and I have had this inner voice telling me that I should do something. As a child, I didn’t understand that I had a voice and I could do something, so I just felt bad. As a teenager, I was painfully shy, so again, I did not act on my feelings. It wasn’t until I was grown and had children of my own that I realized that I had the power and the ability to help others. Of course then I didn’t always have time, so I missed countless opportunities. Now that I am officially an empty nester, I am discovering that I have the ability to change someones life on a daily basis. I have discovered that it doesn’t have to be a time consuming endeavor. It is often the small things that we do that help the most. I do have time and so do you!
Matthew 25:34-39 “Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 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. ‘ Then these righteous ones will reply,’Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you? ” And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me.'”
I have lived a blessed life. I had a wonderful childhood where I knew I was loved and was allowed to be a child. My family was full of love, laughter and opportunity. Maybe this is why I have felt compelled to help others to feel loved as I have always been. My mistake was thinking that I had to work on a big scale. I thought I needed to have a career that would help people, or lead a program at church that would have a big impact and change lives. I have done both. I am an educator both in the public schools and in my local church. While my work has impacted people, I never felt like I was doing enough. Then I found this verse in the Bible. Its kind of like church attendance versus daily time with God. Its good to go to church and its good to work in a field helping people. But is it enough? Can I spend my days teaching and then go home and not respond to a neighbor in need or a friend who is struggling?
In the last year, I have reevaluated my life and how I respond to people and situations. I am trying to listen to my inner voice. When I feel like someone is hurting and there is something I can do I am trying to step out of my comfort zone and act. Sometimes my actions are small, like offering to pray for a woman at my garage sale who’s grandson was missing, or helping a deaf man find a bus stop. Sometimes my actions are ongoing and more time consuming, like making sure my group of women friends gets together on a regular basis, or checking in with friends to make sure they know I love them and I am thinking about them. This blog is another attempt to encourage even more people.
“A mighty flame follower a tiny spark” Dante Alighieri
Just think what would happen if each and every one of us decided that we were going to listen to our inner voice? What would happen if we all decided to step out of our comfort zone and act when we see a need… no matter how small. We could each be that spark in someone’s life. We could be the spark that reignites that person and leads them to go on to be a spark in someone else’s life. Imagine the mighty flame we could create!
