F2W is back from another great trip!  This past week I was coordinating an awesome team of volunteers from South Carolina in Bay St. Louis, MS.  The team and I were there helping victims of hurricane Katrina rebuild their homes, and more importantly their lives.

What I loved about the guys on this team was they knew what work they were and were not capable of doing.  This reminds me, I remember a scene out of a movie.  It stars one of the greatest actors, Clint Eastwood.  In the movie he is playing the ever cool, police officer, Dirty Harry.  In the scene he is speaking to his lieutenant who is bragging how, in his entire police career, he has never had to pull out his gun in the line of duty.  To which Eastwood responds, “A man’s got to know his limitations!”  Bam!

Why do wee tell our children, “You can do anything.”  Uh, sorry but no you can’t!  Don’t believe me, just watch American Idol tryouts. I know I will get in trouble for this but have you seen some of the kids playing sports?  Some of them have no business on the ____ (fill in whatever) field.  I know I was one of them!  

Or we tell them, “You can be anyone you want.”  Again, no you can’t!  I remember as a kid all I wanted to do was fly F-14 Tomcats off aircraft carriers for the Navy (Does anyone hear the Top Gun theme song or is it me?).  In the 5th grade I found out I have bad vision, really bad.  I would have made a horrible pilot.  I was not supposed to fly jets for the Navy.  And that is ok.

Or in our own lives we quote (misquote would be better) the famous verse about how we can do everything with Jesus.  Nope!  Maybe we should reread that verse...  What is wrong with acknowledging to ourselves that we have limitations?

You know what; I cannot do it all (in fact I can’t do most things).  But I can do what God has called me to do.  In fact I can do it well.  Why?  Because that is what he designed me for.  Did you know that you are a wonderful creation!  Yep, and he has designed you for purpose.  A purpose(s) that is unique.  One that only you were created to accomplish.  And only in that is where each of us finds our meaning and fulfillment.  It is almost like God knew what he was doing!  Huh...

Just like these volunteers this past week.  They knew what they could do and they got in there and gave it 100%.  And man, did they accomplish so much.  They truly made a difference in the lives of several hurting families.  What a great team!

Ike

PS: Thank you to all who supported F2W on this trip.  You are making a difference!  Just look at these pics...