One Mind part 4
The thought is singular: I love you. But the method in which the thought is expressed is unlimited. There are so many ways to love people. Something as simple as a smile can brighten someone's whole day. And I've found that the little things ARE the big things. It doesn't always have to be some huge dramatic gesture. And I'm not saying that those aren't cool. They're pretty cool. I'm saying, do what you can do, with what you've got, where you are. I believe we are supposed to live out of our abundance. Look at Luke 3:10-11, "And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise." I don't think we're supposed to overextend oureslves. That's how we get burned out. I think we're supposed to stay in our lanes. As a famous football coach is fond of saying, "Do YOUR job." If I do my job, and you do your job, it'll all get done. But if I'm expected to do everything... things are going to fall through the cracks. I always say, "I can do anything, but I can't do everything." Its not good that man should be alone, right? No man is an island? So while we all have this one thought from our one mind... its not up to any one of us to do it all. Look at 1 Corinthians 3:6, "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." Just do your job. Maybe you plant a seed, and never get to see it blossom. That's ok. As long as you do what you can do... its enough. I believe there are people in your life that you are uniquely positioned and equipped to reach. So reach them. And don't worry about those that you can't. I know that I'm not for everybody. But I'm going to give what I've got, regardless. If I see a need, and I can meet it, I'm going to try. Maximum effort. But that, to me, is the line. Once you've given something everything you've got, its either enough... or its not. And if its not, just shrug your shoulders and move on. Hearts and minds clear. Because even if you give it all you've got... that doesn't guarantee you'll get the result you want. Life doesn't work that way. Like I said, you might plant a seed and then never see how it turns out. And that's ok. Because unlike natural farmers, we aren't planting in order to get something. We're planting simply because we have seeds. We're giving simply because we have something to give. Living out of our abundance, like I said earlier. God has given us everything we need. And the best way (perhaps the only way) to experience what we've been given is to give it away. To share it. To share ourselves. To lay our lives down for our friends. To give everything we have and everything we are, without worrying about how its received. And, listen, there's a difference between not worrying about how its received and not caring how its received. The difference is wisdom. Relationship. Knowing what people really need instead of just shoving what you think is best for them down their throats. That's why God's thoughts are thoughts of peace. He wants what's best for us... and He KNOWS what's best for us. That's why He gave the best--Himself, His Son, His Spirit, His heart, His mind, His life--to us!