Addressing BIG Problems

I love the movie Robots!  And I loved Bigweld's mantra, "See a Need, Fill a Need."  His company was built on making robot's lives better, but then as he was aging and parts of his business were being taken over by others, it began to fall into corruption.  Other misfit robots that believed in his vision were able to expose the problems and were able to go back to incentivizing invention and creativity to make life better for everyone.

Seeing need is the easy part... But figuring out HOW to address the needs is a bit trickier.  In order to truly address needs requires discovering what is causing the need and work toward addressing it where it starts.  What is one to do?  Can we embark on the tandem process to address the needs as well as addressing the root causes? It depends.  While we know that this is true...

Sometimes we need to feed the man so that he is capable of learning how to fish. Sometimes the root cause can't be addressed because the need is so immediate and big.  Sometimes we need to just do what we can do, which means we just need to fill the need instead of spreading ourselves too thin and being ineffective.

Fear not to do good … for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward.

Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail. (Doctrine & Covenants 6:33-34)

Fill a Need

My husband and I work well as a team... We are beginning our journey to really test our teamwork!  We have worked together for many years in volunteer capacities - we worked together with Boy Scouts for over 8 years and then we started and coached a high school competitive robotics team for 4 years. Our next journey, which we have talked about for a few years, is to become foster parents.  Seeing the need of children that need a safe, loving home to be in while their parents figure life out is our next adventure, and while we are unsure of what the future holds, we know that our home and hearts are ready. 

 

The organization Operation Underground Railroad does amazing things rescuing children and women that are being trafficked, the horrific truths of how prevalent this issue is in our own communities are shocking to me. I spoke to my cousin that works for our county in child protection services and discussed with her what she sees.  Her firsthand accounts of the tragedies not only brought me to tears but also made me angry and frustrated.  This also testified to me of our need to minister to the "one."  To be the hope that might inspire a child (or children) need.