Maria reminded the team, “one hot dog per child”. Last Saturday morning a group of us stood in Maria’s kitchen in SOWETO and prepared 382 hot dogs that would be handed out. For some of the children it would be the only meal they would have that day. As I put the ketchup on the bun in preparation for what would be a chaotic, yet exciting handout moment, I began to think about what one hotdog would mean to a hungry child on a cold Saturday morning. One Hotdog.
Think for a moment about the number one. To some, one may seem small and insignificant, but to someone else the number one can mean everything.
One moment
One decision
One comment
One thank you
One opportunity
One idea
One person
One hug
One prayer
One conversation
Have you ever heard the words: “we only did it once”? You see, one decision, good or bad can determine the course of your life either positively or negatively. Consider how your life has been impacted by one important conversation. Or, one “yes” answer. Or, one (appropriate) hug at just the right moment.
The Apostle Paul mentions the power of one in Philippians 3:12-14. He shares with us: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But ONE THING I DO: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Paul doesn’t say he has thirteen things that he’s working on. He sums up his whole life and ministry and let’s us know that it’s actually all about one thing. What was it Paul? “Forgetting those things that are behind and straining towards what is ahead.” One thing. One purpose. One aim.
One then is a pretty big number after all isn’t it? What’s one decision you can make today that would bless someone else? What is the one thing that you want to give your life to?
One hot dog per child please…