‘Why do you stay so busy Michael? When do you plan to retire?’
I hadn’t seen her in years. We exchanged greetings and small talk, the usual compliments about aging well. It is clear that our vision isn’t clear.
Class reunions are a great source of strength reminding me how much I have grown. To me her questions were probing not presumptuous. She did care.
She continued. ‘Ever since I have known you, it seems you take on the needful and neglected. One thing is clear to me and should be obvious to you. These people you help and causes you serve will never go away. I think you should revisit that saying about giving a man a fish. These people just ask for tartar sauce. This is endless.’
I acknowledged and accepted her opinion. She spoke out of genuine concern. I knew I had not saved as much money, or invested as wisely as most of my colleagues and friends. I wasn’t sure how well my wife and I would fare if stricken with severe illness or disability. She was absolutely right. I had no answer.
I left the events filled with joy to see so many colleagues and names and faces I had never met or just forgotten. But the questions served as a wake up call. I asked myself ‘is she right?’ That night, I tried to sleep but the questions kept coming.
Then the Holy Spirit spoke to me.
‘Michael my child, don’t be prideful as if you got this far without Me. The very next breath is because your Creator allows it. You really only have one choice that guarantees your peace and comfort. You must pursue the peace and comfort of the poor and afflicted. When you serve them, you serve Christ. Now get some rest my dear child.’
It is impossible to explain why my wife and I do what we do. It is something we can’t help others understand because I am not sure even we understand. This much we do know for certain. As Jesus said; there will always be poor people, our work is endless.
It is impossible to end world hunger, murder, rape, wars and exploitation. That is not our calling. We are called to give freely what we have been given freely and not concern ourselves about not having enough for ourselves. Our health, intellectual abilities, our resources are temporarily in our grasp. We are called to remind people of their infinite value to the Creator who lives and cares for them
We do this by demonstrating His love. That is the sacrifice we render.
The Holy Spirit spoke again. ‘Michael, as if you had a choice. This earthly life is fading as fast as your eternal life is growing. My dear child, you are well invested. Rest. I know exactly what you need. Rest.
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Matthew 6:31-32 KJV
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6:33-34 KJV