USELESS
A devotional talking about feeling useless or helpless
SCRIPTURE:
Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. —Philemon 1:11—
THOUGHT:
Have you ever felt useless? Have you ever felt that nothing you could do would make a difference or be of any help to anyone? I have been in that uncomfortable situation many times in my life. It’s not that I didn’t want to help. It’s just that I didn’t know HOW to help. The world sometimes gives us the false message that the only way we can be of any valuable assistance is to be some kind of superhero or have some sort of amazing talent that no one else possesses. Yet, the reality is that everyone can do SOMETHING.
Watching the horrific video of George Floyd’s death on the TV news shows, I felt helpless. I felt helpless to assist him. It was too late. He died on the street, a victim of police brutality and of social injustice. I wanted to reach out to his family and hold them and try to comfort them. I wanted to make a reversal on such a tragic use of force. Yet, I felt helpless. What could I do? What would make a difference?
Hmmmm…..I’ve always been an avid reader and absolutely LOVE to be surrounded by books. I know they now have KINDLE readers and audio books with the quickly growing trek of technology. Yet, there is something about holding a book in your hand. The touch of the pages. The smell, yes…avid book readers will tell you there is a smell. The way we mark “our place”. My daughter becomes infuriated with me when I fold the corner of the page (she’s a bookmark person but I still love her), yet it’s my way of being personal with a book. The sight of a book on a store shelf that you have been looking for in what sees like an eternity. The sound of children when they giggle at a story being read to them. Or my favorite, the sense of the warm breeze and the saltwater on my toes when I am reading at the beach. No better place. The rhythmic lapping of the waves is a soothing background noise to enhance the experience. The warm sun enlightening the pages. The feel of the water and sand comforts me and allows me to feel relaxed and rested as I travel to faraway lands.
Well, that was a nice little side trip, wasn’t it? Yet, what does it have to do with changing the world? It almost seems as if it is a way to escape and not to reach out and therefore makes it seem selfish. Yet, it’s another way to help people learn. On book websites right now, African-American literature is sold out. The books about social justice and equality are on a waiting list. The sites are being inundated with persons looking to educate themselves about the issues and I believe that is a great sign. As a teacher, I can teach ACCURATE history through books. Not the way we learned it but as it really is and needs to be. When we have the opportunity to read stories to children, we can find the value and moral lessons that are intricately woven into a fable or fairy tale. At church, we use a BOOK to teach the congregation, both young and old about the Word of God and His Love for all of us – ALL OF US.
So…with the help of my daughter (because I am techno-stupid), we went online and found all the book websites that are owned by African Americans. It wasn’t as easy as it would seem. Do you know how many there are in the US alone? Tons! I believe that is a great “problem”. Then, trying to find justice and equality books was challenging because everything was sold out. WOW! Another great road block. Yet, after about 3 days, I was able to purchase 12 children’s books about the topic and am anxiously awaiting their delivery. So, selfishly I can read them because I am a closeted children’s books reader. Plus, I can give them to a library to use to help children understand their identities, their God-given worth, and discover what they can do to better our world, no matter who they are or what their skin color is or where they are from in this big, big world. I no longer felt useless but in my very small way felt….useful.
You know, many people thought that the Son of God would come into this world as a mighty warrior and a king who would overthrow the government and save the Israelites from oppression. Yet, instead He came as a tiny babe, wrapped in swaddling cloths, without pretense and without violence. When He walked this earth, the same fully human but fully Divine Christ, He healed one person at a time. One miracle at a time. One soul at a time. One child in His lap. He found a way to change the world. The Pharisees may have even seen Him as “useless”, just another Jew. Yet, we as believers, see Him as our Savior. In this world that we have tried to destroy with hatred and vile behavior, we see Him as very, very Worthy.
So, yes. Each one of us can make a difference. One step at a time. One book at a time. One page at a time. One child at a time.
PRAYER:
We come to You God, recognizing the gift of Your Son Jesus Christ. As usual, we were wrong in how He would come, but we are so grateful that He did come. We know He came to save us, to save us from ourselves. From our own ignorance and selfishness and hatred. Now, help us, even in our own small way, to make such a difference for Your People. Help us find a way to fight the social injustice that You must grieve over. Help us to discover even the smallest way to make a difference for Your children.
AMEN.
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