"The Sarge" helped direct the war on poverty as part of the civil rights movement.
Did you know Robert Sargent Shriver Jr.? He might not be a household name, but we all know the organizations he founded or led: Head Start, Job Corps, Community Action, Special Olympics, Legal Services, Neighborhood Health Services… and let’s not forget the Peace Corps. Brother-in-law to John F. Kennedy, Shriver also served as U.S. ambassador to France.
This man did more before breakfast than I do in a month. He seemed bigger than life.
Reading about all Shriver accomplished in his life, I took a minute to reflect on what I’ve done in mine. There are no libraries with my name engraved on the cornerstone, I haven’t even served in the Peace Corps. What have I been called to do?
Most of us doubt we can affect the lives of others. I have a hard enough time taking care of my own issues. I’m doing good if the bills are paid and the girls get their homework done. I don’t have time to help someone else, I’m too busy!
The truth is, I do have time. We all do. What we lack is desire and direction, and the drive to step out and help others. We can look up and look out into the lives around us, we can look for little things we can do. We each have opportunities to touch into the lives of people around us. We have enormous impact on others’ lives when we stand beside them, when we’re there to support them.
This Saturday night at Life Church, my dad will continue to teach about how we can “act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly” with our God (Micah 6:8). Each time we put others’ needs ahead of our own, we begin to walk a little closer with God. Each time we sacrifice just a little bit of our own desires for the good of others, God sees and smiles.
We personally invite you to join us and see how, together, we are “Bigger than Life.”
See you then,
Jason Grubb