2:70 – What Are Your Contributions?

#faithbites #faithjourney contributions

Tonight I was helping my eldest on your “Living Museum” Project. They select a historical figure, to a book report, poster, flip book, and become the person for an interactive display. My eldest selected Sacagawea so we spent the night learning about her and finding pictures that exemplify different parts of her life and her contributions to America.

What I found interesting, and I knew this from going to funerals, is we try to distill a person down to their major contributions. With Sacagawea, we all know she helped Lewis and Clark in their expedition out west. I didn’t know she was a mother or she had never seen the ocean or was taken 500 miles away from her people. These are just a few things about her and there is a lifetime of experiences, events, and activities that make up her life. Yet, we only talk about one or two of her major contributions. This is the same for pretty much everyone. Are we more than just a sum or our parts or the big things we do?

Scripture

• Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand – 2 Corinthians 10:15
• The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” – Ruth 2:12

Reflection

On several occasions we have discussed that works aren’t what get you into heaven, but rather faith in the Lord. As we see in 2 Corinthians, our work and sphere of influence grow as our faith grows. Instead of being remembered for one thing like getting a degree or building something, we can be remembered in emotion and spirit for a lifelong passion for helping, loving, caring, supporting, and being faithful. Those contributions usually don’t get front page news, but in our hearts, those are the contributions that really matter.

In other words, we should love a person for all that they are and all that they do, as a whole person, not just a single contribution even though those are meaningful. As I learned about Sacagawea, she was much more than just a guide across America. She is much more than the sum of her contributions.

So when we say goodbye to someone or recognize someone, let’s remember they are full people who make contributions in everything they do, not just those that make the front page of the news.

Charge

When you think of someone, do you think about one or two things they did, or the life they lived? Maybe that one contribution made you did more into them to learn that they were more than just that one thing. Now, think about those around you. How do you recognize them? Try to see them in a holistic manner and just that one thing they did.

Prayer

Lord, God, you made us complex, multi-faceted people. Thank you for all the gifts you have given each one of us. Give us the vision and persistence to go beyond the superficial when looking at someone’s contributions and see the amazing person you have put in our lives. Let us remember that you made them in your image to fulfill your plan. It’s not a one day and they are done, but a life time of little moments, blessing us. In your name, Amen.