The Big Brothers/Big Sisters program is a wonderful program/organization. Some years back.....13 I think, I found out about it and decided it would be a cool and decent thing to do. I went and got interviewed, had to give references, and be submitted to a background check. Then the scary part: I met the mother. She was super nice and a Christian, which was a relief. I hadn't been sure what I was getting into.
If you're not familiar with the program, it is for kids who don't have a positive role model in their lives. In this case, the boy, Jason, had no father. He had a "sperm donor" who walked out of the marriage when Jason's mom got pregnant and refused to get an abortion. Jason had no contact with his father or his father's family. He had been close to his grandfather on his mom's side until the grandfather's death a year or so before. The kid had no adult male in his life, other than his boy scout coach. So I signed on.
I'll never forget the first time I met Jason. He was a quiet and shy 12 year old. Or so I thought. As I told him and his mom later, he was so quiet at the beginning, but then once he started talking to me, he never shut up.
In the next 4 years, I grew to love the kid as if he were my brother. I took him shopping, to eat out, to see plays, play mini golf, and many other activities. I went to some of his basketball games, school concerts, boy scout events. The program is to help kids, but it helped me also. I believe one of the best things we can do is when we do something for others without expecting something in return. And I believe being a "big brother" was one of the most unselfish things I did, and was definitely the best long term thing I ever did.
I was Jason's big brother for 4 years, and I took it hard when it ended. It was worth it, but it is also painful to have any relationship end. Jason's mom just recently told me that he has turned out to be a great man - he is 25 now. He doesn't smoke, drink, or do drugs, and she said I had a lot to do with the kind of man he turned out to be. I can't put into words how that made me feel, and it made me all the more glad I that I went through with being a "big brother."
I'm only one person, but can you imagine what this world would be like if we all did something along these lines? If we got more involved in others lives. If we did something just for the reward of helping someone without entering into it wondering what we were going to get out of it.
I did that for 4 years, but I'm not holding myself up as a paragon of virtue along these lines. It has been a while since I actively helped someone else just for the sake of doing something good. Partly because opportunities haven't crossed my path, but neither did I go looking for opportunity. There is an old song that comes to mind:
If I can help somebody, as I pass along- If I can cheer somebody-
with a word, or a song-If I can show somebody, that is travelin' wrong-
Then my living shall not be in vain.
Then my living shall not be in vain!
If I can help somebody as I pass along, then my living shall not be in vain!
If I can do my duty, as a good man ought-If I can bring back beauty, to a world
that is so lost-If I can spread love's message as the Master taught,
then my living shall not be in vain.
Then my living shall not be in vain-then my living shall not be in vain.
Then my living shall not be in vain!
If I can help somebody as I pass along- then my living shall not be in vain!
Then my living shall not be in vain!
Then my living shall not be in vain!
Too many of us, even Christians...... especially Christians, are too involved with life. We're too busy, and often that busy is good and necessary, but we lose sight of what is important: people. That is what God is all about, what the Gospel is all about, and what the church and Christians should be about. But sadly, all too often we aren't all about people, being Jesus to people, helping those who need it.
My self confidence levels are usually pretty low, and I find myself wondering what on earth I could do to help anyone, but then I think back to that four year period that I was a "big brother" to a great kid who needed an adult male in his life, and I realize that I can do something. I'm sure I wasn't the perfect guy for that, and many others could have done better. Guys that loved sports instead of me, who barely tolerate them...... but I was able to give love, time, and support. And yes, it cost me a little. I spent time and some money, but having his mom say that I made a difference - that makes it more than worth it.
We can't take much to Heaven with us. In fact, there is only one thing we CAN take with us: People. So why do we waste so much time on stuff that is going to stay here and either rot away or be passed on to someone else, or be put in a garage sale? Why not spend more time on people.... and not just telling them about Jesus - that is a given, but giving them love and time. We can spend hours telling people about Jesus and even inviting them to church, but if we don't love people and just be willing to spend time with them, being their friend, paying attention to them - then why would they want our Jesus?
Our neighborhoods and even our churches are filled with hurting and lonely people. Isn't it time we started caring?
If We Are the Body by Casting Crowns
It's crowded in worship today
As she slips in trying to fade into the faces
The girls teasing laughter is carrying farther than they know
Farther than they know
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way
A traveler is far away from home
He sheds his coat and quietly sinks into the back row
The weight of their judgmental glances
Tells him that his chances are better out on the road
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way
Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come
And we are the body of Christ
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is away?
There is a way
But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way
Jesus is the way
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