“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Luke 10:2).
In 1853, 15-year-old Zoradia Lewis became the lighthouse keeper at Narragesset Bay after her father, a ship captain, suffered a stroke. During the next 45 years, Ms. Lewis saved 16 lives along the rocky coast, all from the confines of a small rowboat. Although she was not a strong swimmer, Lewis knew she was called to save lives and to keep the light burning brightly. Her life was dedicated to watching over a small patch of troubled water, making sure no tragedies took place under her watchful eye and the work that she was called to perform.
When Jesus sent out laborers, He told His disciples to offer peace, heal the sick, and proclaim the good news of God’s kingdom. They were to be lights, to show hospitality, and love the unloveable. In short, they were not asked to change the whole world, but to be faithful over their respective smaller ministries.
Like those first disciples, we all have a circle of influence—people, situations and circumstances—that fall under our watchful gaze.
When we feel the world has become dark and ambiguous, our primary task is not to figure out solutions, but to serve, welcome and proclaim in word and deed that the kingdom has come. There are joys to being in labor in youth ministry, too, especially when the Lord Himself is sending us.
