One Stick

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
-Galatians 6:9

We've got a large section of woods behind our house. After we moved in 4 years ago, we developed a simple trail that weaves through it. It's less than a quarter mile long, but full of deer and foxes and birds, and it's beautiful to stroll through it and embrace God's natural beauty. That trail is where dozens of these TFG reflections have been sparked. It's a sacred space for me. 

It's my job to maintain the trail, but I had NO idea how much work it would require. It's certainly not a major priority in my life compared to parenting, pastoring, coaching, and almost everything else, so every now and then I lose track of what's going on back there. I've been so overwhelmed that I've almost given up some years after the spring growth, when the wisteria vines and the high grasses make it almost completely impassable. Or after a major storm when the brittle white pines come crashing down and completely block everything. Those moments take focused hours of sawing, weedwacking, and "machete-ing."

But the biggest issue may actually just be the little sticks and branches that fall every day. There are so many of them on the trail, just waiting to turn your ankle or trip you. 
Recently I've had no capacity for major trail cleanup, but I've still needed my regular ten minute walks back there. So I've adopted a new habit. 

Instead of being overwhelmed by all the sticks, I just pick up a dozen noticeable ones every time I walk, tossing them off the trail. I know I don't have the capacity to clear off all of them. And it's possible that my cleared sticks each day may be outnumbered by new ones that fall each night. So I may not even be making a dent! 
But it keeps the trail passable, and it does make a difference. And it's kept me from giving up altogether. 

Jesus never called us to save the world, though most days I pretend he did. Jesus called us to be known by his love. Jesus called us to love our neighbors. Jesus called us to give when someone asks. Jesus called us to notice the hurting man on the side of the street. Jesus called us to forgive one another over and over again. Jesus called us to trust his work. 

There are times where the massive realities of a broken world seem too big for us to fix, so it's easier to just be resigned. "Hey, life is brutal and people are hurting but that's just the way it is." Or, we can seek to control everything and everyone around us, mentally obsessed with things far beyond our control and letting the pressure of fixing it all burn us out. Then we end up bitter and hopeless after our failed crack at being the savior. 
Resignation or burnout. Pick your poison.

Or. We can pick up a few sticks every day on our daily walk. We can understand that there is too much to be done, and some of it is ours to do. We can be the people who offer the kind word, who check in on a friend with a text. We can be the ones who volunteer for the causes God has put on our hearts, and who relate to each other as image-bearing people who matter. We can be generous with our time and money to those around us. We can include the excluded. But most days, it's probably going to be small and local rather than than grandiose and global. 

If we want the world to know the tangible love of God, then it has to start with our own neighborhoods and workplaces and friendships. 

It's like that goofy story of the kid on the beach finding thousands of starfish washed up after high tide. And he's throwing them back into the ocean. And a cynical old man walks by and calls out to the kid, "You know, you're not making a difference." 
And the kid looks back at him defiantly, tosses one more into the waves, and goes, "It made a difference to that one." 
There's a reason that story made it onto so many bookmarks. 

I'm not suggesting we don't care about global issues or get involved in the systems that cause them. But I am suggesting that God restores our humanity when we spend time tangibly loving face to face, and we must never neglect that. 

Today, let's invite Jesus to help us make a difference to one. The world is too big and the news is too loud. We will either learn to love the people in front of us, or we will live paralyzed by how much there is to do. 

Jesus, help me be faithful with the work that is mine to do today, and trust you with all that is not. 

Peace,
Keith

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