One Person At A Time
At the end of each year or the beginning of the next we always find ourselves thinking about the previous year. Typically, adjectives like: shock, surprised, disappointment, success, losses and wins are used every year! Sure, 2023 was no different than any other, but what will 2024 bring us and how can we make it the best year yet? Sure, we can make a bunch of goals or set different benchmarks to measure our success. All of these serve a purpose in our life to help make us accountable long-term. For us, 2024 is taking on the mission of “One Person At A Time” through the organizations we serve and the people we encounter each and every day.
This is something that is close to our hearts and a mission that we feel will not only change the lives of others, but our very own. So, what do we mean when we say “One Person At A Time”?
“One Person At A Time” means positively impacting peoples’ lives and being there for them like never before. We need to take the time to have meaningful conversations with others and make it a point to gather together in order to get to know one another. This will involve us having face to face, real and dear conversations with others. By doing this, we will truly begin to understand people’s stories and be able to meet them right where they are in life. Understanding and meeting others where they are will at times take us outside of our comfort zone and our daily routine. Discomfort and change allow for growth, which in turn changes our lives all while changing someone else’s life. Inviting someone to sit at our dinner table on a week day or grabbing a cup of coffee before our busy work day might change our daily routine for one day, but in return will change much more than our daily routine. Outside of opening our home up to others, we plan to serve organizations that make a positive impact on God’s children and spread hope and love through our social media accounts. This is not an exhaustive list, these are just some ideas that we want to encourage everyone to bring to their routines in 2024!
This is not going to be easy. Unfortunately, our brains have been rewired to be focused on technology and screens, ourselves and material items. The world has changed so much.
To us, we think of Jesus and his disciples leaving Jericho. The street was lined with people, including the blind man named Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus was begging on the side of the road and the people around him told him to be quiet as he had no place to bother someone as important as Jesus as he just a beggar, but he did not listen and called out for Jesus. Jesus then heard the calls and stopped. He asked for Bartimaeus to come forward. In this moment Bartimaeus became nervous and unsure of what he had done, but the apostles assured it was safe and he had nothing to be afraid of. Jesus spoke to Bartimaeus with great respect and asked what he could do for him. Bartimaeus asked for his sight as he had previously heard of Jesus’ miracles he had performed. Jesus told him that his faith had made him whole. Immediately, the man could see again and he began to follow Jesus.
Sure, a miracle was performed, but what is the true meaning of this story? It is a story of a person having faith and believing in what they were trying to do. Bartimaeus could have easily stayed in the back and listened to the other people who said he had no worth. Instead, he believed in himself and the need to meet Jesus. We see Jesus moving along, but being cognizant of his surroundings and hearing Bartimaeus. How many times are we not aware of our surroundings or what people tell us? We miss the main point of something that is right in front of us because we are too busy, not really listening or worried about our own agenda. Do not miss the main points of life! Jesus understood the meaning of “one person at a time.”
“One Person At A Time” takes each one of us to change lives. The impact will be felt far and wide when we start taking the time and effort to reach people around us.
How are you going to make ”One Person At A Time” your vision in 2024? Who are you going to connect with first? Are you going to connect with the stranger on the bus or gas station that you would have never talked to before? Or maybe truly listen to the person you usually try to avoid at work or at the grocery store?
Puzzled is meant to be there for families who have suffered infant loss, miscarriage or infertility. This can be lived out by being there one person at a time. Throughout 2024, we will be launching new initiatives to connect with individuals and families like we never have before. It is a truly exciting time for Puzzled, but even more so for each and every person who commits to “One Person At A Time.” We are not stopping at only Puzzled’s mission, but want this to be the commitment for each and every person no matter your background, your story or where you are from.
Together, we can do so many positive things! Your friends need you. Your neighbors need you. Your community needs you. And even greater the people you have not yet met, need you!
Let’s do this, #OnePersonAtATime and make 2024 a great year!
XOXO
Mark and Megan