Someone once said, "The only thing necessary for the world to be a better place is that each child would grow up feeling valued." When Jesus states, "Do not prevent the children from coming to me for such is the kingdom of heaven," when Jesus says, "I have come to seek and to save that which is lost," when He heals the centurion soldier's servant, when He eats with tax collectors and 'sinners,' when He welcomes the interruption of a home-cooked meal by desperate friends to lower their beloved friend through the roof, Jesus demonstrates this most redeeming of traits and enduring of behaviors. He extends value to each of those people or situations. It is what we call walking the talk or living the life of faith. Now abide these three, faith ...

The task of real significance happening in our church, and indeed the world, is bringing value in the form of a sense of hope, a greater meaning, and an unsolicited encouragement to those whose moments in their life story have presented them suffering, disadvantages, or disenfranchisement. If we could only imagine a world where each child feels valued, each adult feels recognized, each church school student feels heard, and each nation respected. Is it so hard to imagine a world with the attention of the haves set on the needs of those who do not have, where no one is displaced, no one is left behind, no one is not offered a chance to participate, to be heard or to enjoy the right to dream of a future that is secure and significant? Faith, hope, and love ... how do we create that in someone's life?

There is an analogy of crabs in a bucket, straining for freedom, only to be dragged to the bottom of the bucket by another desperate form trying to gain the same release. How does a crab escape a bucket when others, attempting the same freedom, inadvertently pull it back? Only by a hand from the external extending to the prison, which is the bucket, can release be acquired. As good as self determination and dreams are, this assistance from without is all the more critical. A variant of the environment is necessary to offer the guidance required for more and more people to live in peace and hope. As just such a creator of value, we shall live in an authentic way to be an asset to others.

Bob

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