In Need of Aid 05: The Seed of An Idea

In August of this past year my oldest daughter and her husband went on a vacation trip out to the West Coast to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. They love hiking and spent much of that time visiting and hiking various trails in California, Oregon, and Washington. One of their first stops was at the world-famous “Redwood National and State Parks.” Most all of us are familiar with the trees that grow there but just in case you have never heard of them I’ll provide this one small bit of perspective from the Internet: “The Hyperion, the tallest known living tree, measures 380.8 feet (116.07 meters) as of 2019.” Need a comparison point? The Statue of Liberty is roughly 305 feet (93 meters) tall. Yep. That one tree located in the “Redwood National and State Parks” is taller than that immense statue. Amazing! Just utterly amazing!

But here’s the truly remarkable thought for me in all this… That one gigantic tree started as a single tiny seed. Granted, it took some 600 to 800 years to grow to its current height, but it still started out as something you could easily hold in the palm of your hand. It’s all about small beginnings!

Ideas are much like that in my limited experience. They almost always start out small. Tiny. So much so that they can seem completely insignificant in the most initial stages. Over the course of my life, few, if any, of the projects I have undertaken came to me all at once. It was usually a procession and progression of simple, small ideas that, over time, combined to form the whole. A simple thought gave way to other related thoughts which, in time, became the foundation, pillars, and construction of something far grander and greater. Small ideas gave way to grand schemes.

I recently had one of those “small idea” moments as it relates to my recent research undertaking with development aid and poverty alleviation. It won’t sound unique or outstanding to anyone reading this blog, but it was a novel concept for me because it was the clearest sense of direction that I have “felt” in quite some time. To that end, I wanted to record it here in this blog as part of the record of this ongoing faith journey that is my life.

“Supporting community-based healthcare services in undeserved regions of Sub-Saharan Africa.”

Now, I’ll be entirely honest. The idea isn’t really even mine exclusively. It came to me via Chat GPT as part of my ongoing research efforts. [I don’t use it as a primary source; rather, it is a helpful reference guide to point me to other sources (think of the old card catalogue system at the library)]. Currently, I am constructing an advisory report for a local, grassroots NGO in Cameroon that covers the subject of potential US-based funding. Despite the fact that I once served as the director of a nonprofit 501(c)(3) in Miami, this is all new ground for me. The complexity here involves the legal requirements around tax deductibility for US individuals and the possible funding mechanisms that can in turn legally direct those gifts to foreign-based charities. Like I said earlier… nothing unique or novel. There are thousands upon thousands of organizations operating within that framework every day. But for me, it is all new and it is a unique opportunity to both serve this Cameroonian NGO and enhance my own learning and growth. To all of that, while “discussing” some research with Chat GPT, OpenAI provided me with the above quote in reference to the question of “Friends of” organizations.

But here’s the thing… The second I read that line, it clicked. Here was the “seed of an idea” for me. Granted, I wouldn’t call it a burning bush, but I certainly felt and believed God was using that means to communicate something of vital importance to me. If nothing else, it was an affirmation that for now I am moving in the right direction. There is a potential outlet for my current passion even if I am rapidly closing in on 60. Maybe I don’t have the physical strength and vitality to serve in the field anymore, but perhaps I can find ways to employ my volunteer time that will enable others to more effectively do so. Who knows? That might just be the path forward.

Like I said… just a seed. But maybe, just maybe, if the seed is nurtured and safeguarded, it might one day become a tree. Probably not as majestic as the Hyperion. But at least there will be something that I “planted” in my lifetime that outlives me and leaves a legacy for good and benefit in the wider world. And if that is the case, I will be satisfied and grateful to my God for this honor and privilege of playing that small role.

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin…” ~ Zechariah 4:10