I Should Fix All the World’s Problems.

One time I heard this quote, “Do all the good you can, for all the people you can, in all the ways you can, for as long as ever you can.”

I thought it was a really great quote. Till I burned out. Which was very ugly.

So I was angry at whoever that guy was that said that. Bitter actually, for several years.

I decided that quote must have been for underachievers, not overachievers (neither of whom are healthy).

But I think I missed something. He didn’t say, “Do all the good that can be done.” He said to do all the good you can do. Which implies I can’t fix all the world’s problems, only a few. 

This kind of gets at the question of responsibility — What exactly am I responsible for?  What will I be held accountable for at the Final Judgment?  I should focus on those and let go of the rest.

Sometimes lately I think Jesus is saying, “I didn’t tell you to fix them. I told you to love them,” which may just mean listening and not giving advice. Or, “I didn’t tell you support a certain cause. I just wanted you to pray for them. Invest the rest of your time in your wife, not them.” And, “I don’t want you to feel their pain. I want you to love them.” Because too many people have too much pain and I was never meant to absorb all that into myself. I was only supposed to show them kindness for half an hour, and leave it to Him to be their Rescuer.

So I guess it’s ok if sometimes “all the good I can do” is let someone vent for a few minutes, and say, “I’m sorry you’re going through that,” or maybe just smile.

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