You Are Vital

During World War II, parachutes were made by the thousands. The work was tedious. Women, and sometimes men, would hunch over sewing machines for 8 or 10 or 12 hours a day. They would sew what seemed like endless seams of colorless fabric. The sheer boredom of what these workers were doing could have driven some of them mad.

But it didn't. Why? Because every morning when they sat down at their machines, they were given a pep talk. The message was always the same.

They were told how vital they were to a life-saving operation. They were asked to think that each parachute they sewed together might be worn by a loved one. When the workers saw how vital they were to someone else, it gave their work meaning. It changed a dull, boring routine into an enthusiastic life-saving project. The workers were able to see how they were a part of a very big team and how someone's life might depend on their very contribution.

When we see how we fit into the big picture, it gives our everyday contribution new meaning. We become vital to others, not only in the work we do in the world, but also in our prayer work and with our positive, uplifting attitude. Sometimes we get so focused on the details of our lives that we forget that others are impacted by what we do and what we say.

God gave us all certain gifts to share with the world. Take a moment to think about your gifts and how you can share them today. Maybe your gift to give is a kind word to a stranger. Maybe you can offer a ride to someone who can't drive. Maybe you send a card to that person who just received a challenging medical diagnosis. Maybe you can baby-sit your neighbor's child so the weary parents can have a break.

And in our work lives, if we can see past the work we do as more than a paycheck and see how vital we are to the end result, our jobs take on more meaning. If you are a teacher, your end product is the students' education. If you are a medical equipment sales person, your end product is the medical help that patients receive from the use of your product. If you are a hair stylist, your end product is the self-esteem each customer receives from seeing a pleasing reflection in the mirror each day.

Today, pause to consider that you are God's love in action and you are vital to God's overall plan for good in this world. Look past the tediousness of this moment and rise above the obvious purpose of what you do to see that your life and everything you do with it is a small thread in the complex tapestry of God's creation. Without your contribution, the tapestry would be missing a vital part of its unique beauty.