I recently saw an ad on TV with singer/songwriter Ricky Skaggs on it. I used to live and work in Nashville, Tennesseee and did freelance design work for country music singers so it piqued my interest to see what he was up to.

The video showed devastation from fires and flooding and Skaggs was saying, ‘We always ask why… Why is there so much suffering in the world? If God is so loving, why is there so much pain and heartache? And why does he allow storms to come?”

Skaggs continued, “Rather than to ask why, I’ve learned it’s better to ask ‘what.’” “What can I do to help?” he asks.

The video shifted to Samaritans Purse volunteers helping people in need in different disasters. Samaritans Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. According to their website, they help people who are “victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through his Son, Jesus Christ.”

Samaritan’s Purse is a great organization – and there are many great organizations out there – both national ones and local ones. The TV ad reminded me that we all have a call to service. I’ve never been one to sit around and complain about something without trying to find a solution. There is always something that needs to be done and I like to jump in and help even when I don’t know what I”m doing.

Sometimes, when things aren’t going good, like they are in many parts of the country right now, it’s easy to get depressed and feel like things are hopeless. But they’re only hopeless if you give up.

Everyone has their areas of concerns – their passions, their personal stories. And the need is great all over. It’s time for you to jump in and help if you haven’t already done so. It will not only be good for the people you help, it will be good for you too – good for your soul.

For me, my time and money goes towards animal rescue charities and veterans with a few other favorite charities added to the mix like the Red Cross and Samaritans Purse.

For others, they want to support breast cancer awareness because a relative got sick. Or it’s volunteering to be an election poll watcher so things go smoothly.

Maybe you have a soft spot for seniors and you can help them get to their medical appointments and to the grocery store.

Maybe you have more money than time and that’s fine too – donate what you can to help others who have it worse than you do.

It’s easy to sit back and complain about what’s going on in the country right now. But it’s better to be a part of changing things, giving a helping hand to those in need.

No amount of time or money is too small. You can make a difference in someone’s life. Have you read the Starfish Story by Loren Eiseley?

One day, a man was walking along the beach, when he noticed a boy hurriedly picking up and gently throwing things into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “Young man, what are you doing?”

The boy replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’ throw them back, they’ll die.”

The man laughed to himself and said, “Don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish. You can’t make any difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said, “I made a difference to that one.”