Hi, all. Just a thought to help start your weekend.

While my wife participated in a conference last summer, I explored the streets of downtown Charlotte, North Carolina, on foot. I wandered around in an old pioneer cemetery, followed a historical walking trail, sat in a city park for a bit, and enjoyed an excellent cheeseburger in a hole-in-the-wall spot full of folks half my age and younger. While doing all of that, I stopped more than once to watch some fountains and water features like this one.

I think there is something quite peaceful about watching and listening to the water cascading over the different levels of the fountains. Each water drop washes away some small particle of dirt with it. Each minute, hundreds of gallons of clean water flow by. The beauty, the cleanliness, the simplicity of it all then becomes one’s focus. And that directed focus then omits everything else from the overall picture.

What you cannot see in my photograph, is that just beyond that prominent downtown water feature, a few short feet away, underneath that bus stop shelter, on a busy city street, lies a half-clothed man, flat on his back, disheveled, dirty, ragged, alone, and asleep.

The beauty of this world is a great marvel. I enjoy it greatly. But if I miss the great needs all around me, then what good am I doing for the Lord?

In your week ahead, I challenge you to take advantage of God’s beauty all around you. But remember, a part of that beauty lies in the needs we, as His children, are all called to help meet. Can I help every person and make a difference in every life? No. But to one person, I can help make all the difference. Won’t you help me?

Just a thought.

’Til later.

 

Rev. Brad Campbell can be reached at mastah.pastah@yahoo.com.