purpose

Every morning at the store before we get opened up we do the 'Big 6'- six tasks that get us in shape for being able to fully serve our customers. For the past fifteen months of my life I have cleaned the bathroom every Monday, Tuesday, Friday, & Saturday morning. It's pretty basic- scrub toilet, restock regular bathroom supplies, sanitize everything someone would've touched, mop the floor, etc... Most days it's just so second nature that I can get in & out fairly fast, having covered everything.

This morning I just so happened to rescue a copy of Newsweek from the top of the bathroom trash (some may find this disgusting, I, however, choose not to think about it so as not to drive myself nuts). The cover caught my attention. I live in a studio apartment with no internet, no cable, no television, no newspaper subscriptions, nothing. It's easy to be oblivious to current events. Not this one- the photo of a mourning Haitian woman staring back at me was enough to bring me back to reality. I'm not so out of it that I hadn't heard about the earthquake- my prayers have been directed toward Haiti for over a week now- but seeing evidence of it's devastation struck my heart in a different way. In that moment my thoughts flashed back to 2005 when my path took me to Haiti & I met some of the most incredible people. The people I met there really had nothing, yet they taught me the meaning of contentment- they were joyful & friendly & helpful & caring & passionate. Now a country that was already struggling for survival is facing extreme destruction, with the death toll estimated to reach over 100,000 & about 1,000,000 left homeless. These people need our help now more than ever...it's time to get moving no matter how small the involvement.

I have an AMAZING best friend!! She was supposed to leave for Haiti tomorrow, but due to circumstances far beyond her control her trip has been postponed. It's comforting that in the midst of what we view as chaos God is still in control. He's still the same God he was thousands of years ago & He's still doing amazing works far beyond our level of comprehension. I know she will go back soon & given the call God's placed on my heart I'm certain I will as well.

At this point in my life, there are only limited ways for me to help, but my heart yearns to make a difference. I have to put my entire heart into doing what I can now & continue looking for opportunities to do more & to take advantage of the opportunities given to me. God has me here right now for a reason & a purpose & He's confirmed that numerous times over the past month. I'm going to give all of me each day to His purpose no matter how small the task- even cleaning bathrooms.

'I long to accomplish a great and noble task; but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble.' - Helen Keller