There is so much to do.
I wish I could do more.
These are some images from the past year that act as a reminder to me that I am not doing enough. Sometimes I feel like the guy standing next to a cliff…..well, I’ll get to that in a minute.
(Photo – top left) I walked the property of Roblealto in Costa Rica to help our church partner engage with the many orphans that live with house parents there. But, there is SO much more that can be done.
I wish I could do more.
(Photo – top right) I engaged with the children at a Ukraine orphanage and watched as a very loving director interacted with these kids as if they were her own. But, there are over 50 orphans in that home. They don’t have parents and you can see the void behind the smiles. I’m not moving fast enough.
I wish I could do more.
(Photo – bottom left) I went to the top of a volcano in Costa Rica to visit one of the poorest areas in the country. And, I toured the condemned shack that our church partners envisioned as the future children’s ministry building. An awesome idea to bring help and hope to that community. It’s still there. I’m not moving fast enough to help the 60+ kids that live on the top of that volcano.
I wish I could do more.
(Photo – bottom middle) This time last year, I spoke at the White House. That time has come and gone. There still has not been significant changes made to the way our government strategically aids orphans and children in adversity here and abroad. Why can’t they move faster on something so important? My voice has not been loud enough.
I wish I could do more.
(Photo – bottom right) Finally, this little girl who had her cleft lip fixed is a constant reminder that my little cleft palate 2 year old is getting older. He is a constant reminder to me of the need that is out there. And, I want him to be proud of his dad as he gets older.
I know I am not moving fast enough. I think that is a tension I will always have to live with unfortunately.
I mentioned the cliff earlier –
When I get bogged down thinking about slim resources and only things that I can see, I sometimes replay a haunting scenario in my mind. I envision a helpless child dangling from a cliff. I am standing at the top of that cliff. That little orphan is begging for God to save him, not knowing I am above him just yards away. But, I need a rope in order to save him. I beg every car passing by to stop and everyone just keeps going. Finally, one car finally pulls over and I ask for a rope to save the child dangling over the cliff. They actually have one in the trunk. So, we grab it and run back over to the cliff’s edge only to hear a deafening silence. Too late.
Even though the story is not real, it is a sobering reminder to me that I need to act with urgency. I would encourage you to do the same. Could your urgent help be the catalyst that gets those children into forever families? Do you have influence and means that could make big change? Please don’t wait until next year. Don’t just drive by with the rope in the car. The time to make a difference is right now.
“I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough, we must do.” Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519);Artist, Inventor, Scientist
Wish I could do more,
Steve Gillis
https://gagivesday.org/c/GGD/a/patchourplanet
https://patchourplanet.org/donate
I would love to hear your thoughts…..
