Why me?

I’m no brick-layer or electrician. I’m no carpenter or teacher, I’m not a leader. I’m not a lot of things that this mission needs.

I guess I am someone who said yes. Admittedly, it was a doubtful and reluctant yes; but, it was a yes nonetheless. I lacked faith in my own abilities. In fact, I still do; but to say yes, to surrender, is to trust that you will be provided with what you need, when you need it.

So, there are 27 of us. Some of us bring specific skills and talents. All of us bring heart and a willingness to say “Yes”. I guess I do have something that the mission needs after all.

I’ve always felt a certain sense of guilt about singing the offering hymn “A bleak mid-winter’s night”.

What can I give him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb.
If I were a wise man,
I would do my part.Yet what I can, I give him.
Give him my heart.

God has been so generous to me. I felt I was being ungrateful by implying that despite everything he has given me, friends, family, and an easy, comfortable life, I somehow had nothing.

Now, I think I might get it. In terms of the specific talents and skills needed for this mission, I am the subject of that song. I don’t have the talents that some of the others do; but,I can still contribute simply by giving what I do have. I can work hard. I can be a grunt.  I can give my heart.

I guess I don’t have to feel guilty any more.

This was written by a member of our team prior to the 2009 mission. You don’t have to be a tradesman or a teacher, a preacher or a leader. You just have to be willing to listen to God’s call. You just have to give your heart, your strength and your mind over to showing God’s love to your neighbours whether their around the block or halfway around the world.