Make a Difference Today
In the movie, "About Schmidt," 66-year-old Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson) has retired from his job as an insurance actuary. He is miserable and dissatisfied with his life, and after his wife (June Squibb) suddenly dies, he feels even more lost and alone. Throughout the movie he writes his personal thoughts to a 6-year-old African child, Ndugu, that he sponsors for $22 a month.
"I know we’re all pretty small in the big scheme of things. I suppose the most you can hope for is to make some kind of difference. But what kind of difference have I made? What in the world is better because of me? Relatively soon I will die. Maybe twenty years. Maybe tomorrow. It doesn’t matter. Once I am dead and everybody who knew me dies too, it will be as though I never existed. What difference has my life made to anyone? None that I can think of. None at all. Hope things are fine with you. Yours truly, Warren Schmidt."
So Schmidt sets out in an RV to try to reconnect with his daughter and save her from making a bad choice in marriage. That effort is a disaster and he returns home even more depressed. When he arrives home, Schmidt finds a stack of mail. He sees an international envelope and opens it.
"Dear Mr. Warren Schmidt. My name is Sister Nadie Guchier of the Order of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. I work in a small village near the town of Enbaya in Tanzania. One of the children I care for is little Ndugu Emu - the boy you sponsor. Ndugu is a very intelligent boy and very loving. He is an orphan. Recently he needed medical attention for an infection of the eye, but he is better now. He loves to eat melon, and he loves to paint. Ndugu and I wanted you to know he receives all your letters. He hopes you are happy in your life and healthy. He thinks of you everyday, and he wants very much your happiness. Ndugu is only six years old and cannot read or write, but he has made for you a painting. He hopes you will like this painting. Yours Sincerely, Sister Nadine Guchier."
Warren unfolds the paper and stares at it. It is a drawing of two stick figures; a boy holding the hand of a man. Schmidt stares at it and begins weeping. His tears of grief turn to tears of joy, knowing that his life matters to a little African orphan boy.
That is a pretty touching story line, but it is also infinitely sad. God doesn't intend for us to live our lives disconnected, miserable, and without meaning; waiting till the end of our life to find that our life mattered. Jesus said, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10) It is God's purpose for your life to have joy and influence. Look around you today and see who you can serve in Jesus' name. Start making a difference and rejoice in the goodness of God.
