We all want to be part of a bigger story.
We are wired to seek purpose beyond ourselves.

This world is an amazing and beautiful place with truly remarkable people. Yet we don’t need to look far to see also the brokenness, poverty, sickness, hatred, oppression, and darkness around. It can be easy to become overwhelmed by all the needs around us. Can I make a difference?

Working for a social-impact consulting firm, we have the privilege of working alongside a variety of mission-minded organizations serving the community in some way. I love listening to members of these organizations passionately describe their mission, their story, and their work to serve others.

Serving adults with different abilities by offering housing, care, and employment opportunities. Feeding the hungry. Facilitating entrepreneurship among low-income youth. Providing reading and media services to the blind and low vision community. Inspiring creativity through art and music. Taking needed medical supplies around the world where most needed. The list continues—caring for the poor, the orphan, the homeless, the neglected.

What an honor it is to come underneath and serve these organizations, these people, as they serve their communities—playing a small part through fundraising, finance and accounting support, or a strategy or research project. To support them in achieving their God-given mission.

I am challenged by the generosity needed to operate the programs—the generosity of donors to support the mission, the generosity of staff and volunteers investing their time, and the generosity of anyone investing their time, energy, attention, comforts, or resources to serve others.

This generosity can become a way of life, and I am challenged and have been blessed by those who have adopted it as such. Living generously, whether we have much or little, does enable us to live freely.

True, there is a lot of need in the world, and the needs can feel overwhelming—but there is also a lot of good. Ronald Reagan is known for saying,

“We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.”

This mindset helps me put the vast needs of the world in a proper perspective.

Working in human services directly is not necessary for making a difference, but we can all make an impact among those around us—especially among the most vulnerable.

Consider the following questions:

• Who do you know whose generosity has inspired or blessed you? Can you thank them today?
• What are you passionate about? Is there a mission or cause that draws you?
• Is there someone you know whose mission you can support?
• As Reagan suggested, is there one person today whose life you can bless?

I believe that while one day God will restore all things with true justice and peace, in the meantime we will continue to live in a broken world.

I also believe though that we can still make a real difference in the lives of real people today.
In doing so, we can join with and serve a bigger story.

SOAR is here to help the helpers.
Do you want a partner in achieving your mission?
Contact us today at info@soar.partners.

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