As I was leaving Walmart today there was a man in a wheelchair putting groceries into his back seat.  I asked if he might need any help.  As it turned out, he was almost done and declined but then stopped and told me thank you for offering.  

I recently saw a story about a man who has a muscular disease and has the body of a small child.  He wanted to see the world but was limited by his wheelchair.  His friends built a custom backpack and traveled the world with and for him.

I have a sweet friend who is legally blind.  There is much she simply can’t do.  While there is so very much she can, she has to rely on others for everything else–to drive her, to tell her what things look like, to read signs and point out tricky spots in the sidewalk.  

You know what all these scenarios require?

Someone with a need who is willing to allow others to meet it.

In light of our being delegates with vital work to do, this may be the ‘how’ to accompany the ‘what.’ We all have these things we feel and are called to, burdened for, gifted toward, but the journey to accomplishment is a long, arduous, bumpy, and doubt-ridden road.  On any given day you can know your mission and have such a passion and vibrance for it that you feel you could fly.  Then you blink and that same task is heavy as lead and every step seems riddled with turmoil and bearing little or no fruit.  Then there are the days when it just seems pitch black dark as you stare down the road it feels you alone must travel! You have no idea how to proceed or maybe even where it is you’re really headed.

You know what we need?

We need to be people with a need who are willing to allow others to meet it.

Tell Archippus: See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.                                                                           Colossians 4:17

We need others to come alongside us with whom we can share the ministry we have each received.  And we need for them to call us out.  We need for them to help ensure we ‘see to it’ that we live the lives we’ve been called to.  We need to be people who recognize our need.  We need to be people who turn to those offering to help us in love and humility and say thank you for reminding us of what we’re to be doing here.  We need to be people who don’t shun advice and help and accountability.  

Because you know what?  We all need a little help here.

There are two people in this scenario: the one needing help and the one offering it.  Be both.  And be both with grace, discernment, love, humility, patience, kindness, gentleness.  Not sure how to do that exactly?  Try.  Try to give it.  Try to take it.  Try to be moved to obedience by the gentle encouragements of others in the Body who know what you are called to be and need and desire that you be it.    

“The story of your life is the story of the long and brutal assault on your heart by the one who knows what you could be and fears it.”         -John Eldredge, Waking the Dead

Do you know what you could be?  Do others?  Do you “strenuously contend” (Colossians 1:29) to become daily that which Satan fears?  Can you become that alone?  Who will make sure you don’t have to? Are there others who are weak in the battle?  To whom might you be Aaron to the weak armed Moses? Perhaps it’s time we all just give little help here.