Hope. Freedom. Joy.

As I read Isaiah 61:1-4, I think of these words. Visions of the world, both today and in the past, race through my mind.

When I read the morning paper or listen to the news, I often feel worried about all that is happening in the world. Not just in one community, one state, or one country, but there seems to be brokenness everywhere. What will the world look like when my children are grown? What have we created and what are we perpetuating into future generations?

At the same time, I have to remind myself of all the good there is. There are so many organizations created by a vision for a better world. Countless people have put their hearts and souls into helping others, aiming to make the world a better place. And it doesn’t require organizations to generate goodness. It can happen through small gestures. An acknowledgment of someone’s thoughts, a hug for someone who is hurting, a smile and a friendly face to someone who needs to feel appreciated and loved. These simple acts of kindness can also translate into hope, freedom, and joy.

My grandfather was a journalist. He loved talking to people, learning from people, and telling their story. After retiring, he found an interest in helping youth through the Juvenile Hall Support program in Los Angeles. He would devote time to youth, listen to them, provide advice when asked, but ultimately let them know that he cared about them and wanted the best for them. He continued working in the program into his 80s. At my grandfather’s memorial service, one of the youth who he worked with, who ultimately became a successful businessman, recounted memories with my grandfather. Through tears, he said that my grandfather saved his life.

When I was working on my Changemaker fellowship, I was told of a metaphor about how to solve big thorny problems... Imagine a room that has a large elephant sitting on a stool. You are asked to make that elephant move. What would you do? You could try pushing that heavy elephant. You could try bribing it with peanuts. But what if you took a different approach? What if you took a chisel and chipped away at the legs of the stool? Eventually the elephant would become uncomfortable on that wobbly stool and would have to stand up. Even better, the elephant may not want to return to that wobbly stool. Change, possibly permanent change, would occur.

There are a lot of challenges in the world that need to be addressed. Small efforts make a difference. You can provide a glimmer of hope. Your friendship, your acknowledgement, your leadership, your courage, and your smile makes a difference in paving the way for hope, freedom, and joy to all.

PRAYER: Dear God, thank you for encouraging us to create glimmers of hope, freedom and joy for others. Please help us see opportunities, even very small ones, to make a difference in other people’s lives.

PROMPT: Where do you see opportunities, either small or large, throughout your day to help others?