When looking at the most recently released images of Earth, it is hard not to feel like a tiny, insignificant speck aimlessly wandering about this gigantic round orb in this even more gigantic universe. It's daunting to think of all of the people living on it that we are supposed to love and care about.
Hey look, there I am!
A glance at that makes me, momentarily at least, wonder if I really matter at all. Yesterday I went to work, talked on the phone, bought a rotisserie chicken at Ralph's, took a nap, went to the gym with my roommate, ate dinner, got in my Batman PJ's and finished Downton Abbey (my life is super exciting, I know). I thought I had a pretty productive day until I saw that picture.
The news website that contained the picture also had headlines of prison camps in North Korea, of famine in Darfur, of riots in Istanbul, of the underground sex trade all over the world and of the potential of an impending economic collapse of the EU. Of celebrities marrying teenagers, of moral leaders falling to corruption, of free speech leading to prison, of schools being invaded by the state...the list goes on and on.
The thought of fitting that whole messed up planet into my tiny heart makes my head spin. In a way, it makes me want to call it impossible now and throw in the towel. To not pressure myself into doing "the right thing" because what I (this tiny insignificant speck that is too small to be located on the satellite image of Earth) do doesn't really affect the world anyway. To buy this T-shirt to notify everyone of my position.
Honesty is the best policy.
But then I think of Jesus. A savior who could fit the whole world into His heart and who could love each messed up person as if they were whole world.
It got me wondering what the heck I'm supposed to be doing here. So I googled it. In the image section, this picture kept popping up.
Thanks, Google.
Normally these types of things gross me out and I discount them as cheesy bumper stickers, but I clicked further in and was lead to this verse: " Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them." 1 Corinthians 7:17.
The whole idea of being "assigned" to my situation was one that I had never thought about before. I started to think- well what the heck is my assignment then? To work, to talk on the phone, to buy chicken, to run? I'm kind of a procrastinator, is this an assignment I can do the night before? Does it really matter?
While worrying about figuring out the assignment and if I'm doing anything that matters to it, a thought occurred to me. Secret agents go on assignment. Adventuring Archaeologists go on assignment. Superheroes go on assignment. And suddenly the thought was exciting.
What does someone on assignment do but take cues from his or her boss and represent the agency they work for while on the field? And not every assignment is somewhere super exciting. And not every assignment is one full of intrigue or international espionage. But it is important to the boss and the boss' agency, so the one who's on assignment (hopefully) follows the instructions and gets the job done while representing their agency well.
The correlation here is obvious, I think...
Black Widow totally wears glasses.
Everything we do matters. We were assigned to our position- whether it be as a student, a mom, a hobo, a business person, a teacher, a friend, a barista, a struggling single, a traveller, a butcher a baker or a candlestick maker. It's easy to look at others around us and to think that what they're doing is more significant. But really, we should just be focused on our own assignment and putting our efforts into staying in tune with the Boss. And to make sure that we are representing the Agency well when we are buying chicken at Ralph's or at the gym with our friends.
And to be open to the Boss' instructions. You are not an accident, so your circumstances (as hard or mundane as they may seem sometimes) are not accidental either. To quote the great philosopher Gandalf "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us."
By deciding to follow and to trust that the Boss knows best and will never leave us or forsake us, we are deciding to make our time matter. We are deciding to work for and represent the ultimate Agency. To wear the uniform of Redeemed and represent it to the world while buying chicken. And, just like agents in the field, it may often seem like there is a lull in action, but we must use those times to rest and prepare and always be ready to go when we get the signal.
And, to "Bloom Where We're Planted". Our location and our sphere of influence is intentional. Our neighbors, our friends, our delivery people, even our annoying check-out people at the store. By blooming where we are, instead of waiting for more interesting soil, we are being a source of beauty and inspiration for those around us. Isn't that what a flower is supposed to do? To remind us of the beauty in the world and point us to admiration of the gardener?
Whether you are a flower or an agent (or a flagent), take heart and take pride in knowing that everything you do for the Boss or the Gardener (or the Gardenoss) is significant because you were assigned to bloom in it.
Here's to Mattering this Make it Matter May!
Thanks, Rachael!!
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