impact

It's one thing to be hopeless and quite another to be surrendered. Sometimes we can't tell the difference.

I'm part of what I would call a "missional" church and a start-up company. Both involve big visions and big thoughts and dreams of big impact.

The shortcoming of being in these contexts is that sometimes I'm not content with the simple joys of life. The grandmother wielding a knitting needle in her rocking chair has a better grasp of God's daily, common grace than I do... I won't be satisfied until poverty is eradicated from the planet.

I'm just learning how to walk with God. Perhaps one day, He will grant that I go to the nations and do crazy things, but for now, I want to know how to thank Him for my roommates, my family, my church, my co-workers, and Jesus, who is prying more control from my hands every day. I want to demonstrate His free and unconditional love to the people around me now.

So when I feel like I'm not making enough of a dent in the issues in the world and peoples' lives, I remember that it's an act of faith to do anything at all. I don't want to turn hopeless, "Oh, woe is me and woe is the world, why are things not changing?" All I can really do is ask God to use my words, my deeds, my devotion, and my weaknesses.

And then I wait for the surprises to unfold.