I Sent You

There is an old story of a kid growing into a young adult, looking
around at the broken world and unreliable people.  Crime, confusion,
lies. Disasters, hunger, homelessness. Broken families, addiction,
cruelty.

Coming out of the childhood innocence and seeing the world how it
really is, the youth cries out to God, “God, look at this world!  Why
haven’t you sent someone to help?”

After a long silence and listening, God replied, “I did, I sent you.”


As a late teenager, I had this story written on my bedroom door, so I
had to pass it every day as I entered the world.  And, as a late
teenager, I often overestimated my own expectations of that calling.
You see, I assumed I was the only one calling out to God in such a
way.  I spent a great deal of that chaotic young energy trying to fix
the world, which, you can guess it, resulted in a lot of frustration
and feeling defeated.

In the time that has passed, I have learned a few things (most likely
from you) in regards to this story.

1. I was not the only one recognizing the brokenness of the world.  A
multitude of us see it and experience it.

2. I was not the only one God sent (sheesh, talk about a Jesus
complex!).  Yes, God sent Jesus, and Jesus beckoned the call to ALL of
us. Whosoever can state the pain of the world and the faults of people
ought also to step outside and listen carefully to the voice answering
over every house, “I sent you.  I sent you. I sent you. . . I sent
you. I sent YOU.”

3. We cannot fix the world like we fix a running commode or piece
together a puzzle.  We fix it by not being a part of the problem, not
trying to do it on our own, but actually submitting to the voice that
called us, “I sent you.”  HE has the plans, and we have to blindly
trust and follow. That’s what faith is. Hebrews 11:1 says “Faith is
the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Faith is the solution in the midst of the problem, the wholeness in
the presence of pain, the goodness that will overtake evil.

So,let whoever sees a problem in the world, a person, or even our
humble church acknowledge they are invited to participate in God’s
perfect solution, and recognize that it is not by our own best ideas
and intentions that such a change will take place.  God has it all
worked out. Let us not be passive complainers or pot stirrers. Let us
not be overzealous “fixers,” but let us all answer the call to submit
to His plans for healing His creation. See you at the watering hole.