Life Ministries

    Its funny – what we think is going to save us – often destroys us – while what he think will rob us – ends up saving our lives. In fact, Jesus said this very thing. “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” (Matthew 16:25)
    It’s ironic what we discover from Esther’s decision. When you learn what you are willing to die for, then, at last, you have found what is worth living for.
    In the recent movie, "About Schmidt" 66-year-old Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson) has retired from his job as an insurance actuary. He is miserable, and after his wife suddenly dies, he is also lost. He travels the country in his RV hoping to stop his daughter’s marriage and to find purpose to his life. Throughout the movie, he writes his personal thoughts to a 6-year-old African child, Ndugu, that he sponsors for $22 a month.
    As Warren is traveling back home in his R.V., he begins contemplating the meaninglessness of his life. (He shares he thoughts in letters to his 6 year old foster child). You hear a voice over -
"I know we’re all pretty small in the big scheme of things. I suppose the most you can hope for is to make some kind of difference. But what kind of difference have I made? What in the world is better because of me?"
    He briefly explains how he failed in trying to stop his daughter from marrying a loser. Then he says, "I’m weak, and I’m a failure. There’s just no getting around it."
    He arrives home and picks up a stack of mail. The voice over continues: "Relatively soon I will die. Maybe twenty years. Maybe tomorrow. It doesn’t matter. Once I am dead and everybody who knew me dies too, it will be as though I never existed. What difference has my life made to anyone? None that I can think of. None at all. Hope things are fine with you. Yours truly, Warren Schmidt."
He sees an international envelope and opens it. The voice over changes to the voice of Sister Nadie Guchier (pronounced Goo-chee-ay).
"Dear Mr. Warren Schmidt. My name is Sister Nadie Guchier of the Order of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. I work in a small village near the town of Enbaya in Tanzania. One of the children I care for is little Ndugu Emu - the boy you sponsor. Ndugu is a very intelligent boy and very loving. He is an orphan. Recently he needed medical attention for an infection of the eye, but he is better now. He loves to eat melon, and he loves to paint. Ndugu and I wanted you to know he receives all your letters. He hopes you are happy in your life and healthy. He thinks of you everyday, and he wants very much your happiness. Ndugu is only six years old and cannot read or write, but he has made for you a painting. He hopes you will like this painting. Yours Sincerely, Sister Nadine Guchier."
    Warren unfolds the paper and stares at it. We then see it. It is a drawing of two stick figures of a boy holding the hand of a man.
    Warren stares at it and begins weeping. His tears of grief turn to tears of joy, knowing that his life mattered to a little African orphan boy. The movie ends.
    Ultimately, this is how hope is derived in times of hopelessness. Not only are you, your time or your circumstances not an accident – if you will not give in to selfishness or give up to despair – God will use you and your circumstances, to do something great for the Kingdom of God.
    In the end, does it really matter HOW that happens? It may happen through some wonderfull experience where everyone has flowers, and ice cream and goes home with a prize. But, most of the time, that is not how it happens. It’s often in a time of seemingly hopelessness that the greatest demonstration of the power of God is revealed – and the lives of other people are transformed because YOU chose to do something great for the Kingdom of God with your life. THAT is where hope comes from – today, tomorrow, forever until the end of time….there is always hope.