Do you like to visit new places or old favorites? Places you have been before are known quantities. New ones have a greater sense of adventure but also the associated risk of moving into the unknown. Perhaps the best of both worlds is to go to new places with a friend who has been there before, who can serve as your guide. Whether you like to travel or not, you are moving into an unknown future. Here there is no choice but to consider it a new experience. Would you like a guide? I do not face the same limitations of time that you do.

Do you encounter a multitude of worthy causes? Each of them may be understaffed and crying out for additional money and effort to advance it. Do you find that your own resources are limited and you are not able to support them all? You can acknowledge that a task is worthwhile without giving yourself to it. You can admire and applaud the efforts of others while you attend to the work that is your own. Do you live with a sense of destiny, that you have your own calling and purpose, and that the tasks that I assign to you are your own true mission? These I will enable you to complete.

Are you prepared to render first aid? First aid training is offered on the premise that those in emergency medical situations need immediate help. The person near at hand who can stop the bleeding is more helpful than the doctor far away. Relatively little training is required to save a life while more advanced care is on the way. Can you extend this principle beyond medical situations? What about spiritual ones? Are you prepared to offer spiritual first aid? In the routine course of your life you will meet people with immediate spiritual needs.

Are you familiar with the idea of reserves? You may practice it. Are you aware of how much gas you have in your car and add fuel before you run out? Do you have some money available for emergencies? This concept applies in many areas. Can you think of others? What about a reserve of grace? Have you ever felt depleted by a series of extreme demands? Grace isn’t something you can measure and save like gallons and dollars, yet you still know people who seem to have a larger reserve to draw on than others.