Just Feed One

This week, on World Refugee Day, I came across a video of a family from Arizona.

The parents said that when they saw that Russia invaded Ukraine, they decided to forgo their beach vacation and instead travel to Poland to assist refugees. They remained there for fourteen months, helping at the border with transportation, housing and supplies.

It was an incredible story. Uplifting. Inspirational.

And to be honest, it made me feel like kind of a loser.

Leaving everything behind to travel across the world and serve full time is so far from my own reality. It left me feeling helpless to make a difference.

I admit, it's not a new feeling. It has also struck me, for instance, when seeing women on Instagram who have founded charities and foundations, rallied masses and lobbied Congress, all while wearing LuluLemon and raising entire congregations of children. Somehow, the algorithm always introduces me to these women on days I haven’t even managed to pick laundry up off the floor.

But what always brings me back when I feel this way, are the words of Mother Theresa, who said

Now that, I can do. 

I have never traveled to a third world country. I have never financed clean water for an entire village. I have never built an orphanage, or housed refugees. 

I am so grateful for people who have. Maybe someday I will be one of those people too.

But for now, I have visited a friend recovering from surgery. 
I have delivered lunch to an exhausted teacher. 
I have donated cans of food and what money I could to worthy causes.
I have offered to reach high shelves at store for people with disabilities. 
I have sincerely complimented strangers. 
I have picked up trash along walking trails.
I have bought extra costumes at Halloween and toys at Christmas to give away.

It’s easy to consider how much poverty, war and hunger exist, and collapse under the overwhelming weight of it.

If, like me, you can’t imagine making a massive difference for people across the world, start by trying to make a small difference for one person in front of you.