3 Points to Ponder
- “There are times we need to experience the darkness to better appreciate the light. What have you learned from your struggles?”
- “God is not looking for perfection to change His world. He needs someone waving a white flag of surrender from doing it their way. Are you waving a flag yet or are you still trying to do it your way?”
- “It is the small acts of service building on top of one another that change the world. We look for the grand when the secret sauce is simply living beyond yourself in all things — big and small. How can you live this week beyond yourself, focusing on the simple, small acts of kindness for others?”
2 Quotes to Share
“Living well is an art that can be developed: a love of life and ability to take great pleasure from small offerings and assurance that the world owes you nothing and that every gift is exactly that, a gift.” -Maya Angelou
“With our small offerings, He can do great things.” -Unknown
1 Story of Impact
This past week, I received one of those random emails that said, “I’d like to connect. I’m sure you will recognize my name, as your dad and I were friends back in the day.” A blast from the past, I hadn’t seen Rich Dixon since I was 7. Our family had visited his family once in Colorado; the most I remembered from that trip was running on top of the mountain and getting elevation sickness. I also remember a year later, Rich fell off the roof of his house and was paralyzed from the waist down. Jumping on a Zoom call, it was such a blessing to catch up with Rich and learn more of his story. For 12 years after the accident, Rich sat around and felt sorry for himself. A friend then challenged him to take a handcycle out for a spin. Two blocks and 30 minutes later, Rich felt something he hadn’t in a long time – life. A big, hairy vision came to him. He needed to handcycle across the country. Hearing Rich’s vision, that same friend said he should make it bigger than just a personal accomplishment. In 2011, Rich cranked 1,500 miles along the entire length of the Mississippi River, speaking to more than 4,000 people in 26 different venues and raising nearly $60,000 for Convoy of Hope. From this genesis, Rich’s Ride took form, now going for over 10 years and raising $407,000 to free children from human trafficking. For Rich, it started with taking what little he had and bringing it to the table, offering it to be used. A broken man in a broken body offered two blocks on a handcycle. What do you have to offer the world right now? It doesn’t have to be a well-thought-out plan with major resources. At least not the first few steps. A sincere heart for others and the grit to stick to it are the ingredients for success. Again, I ask you, from your story, what do you want to give to the world?
