THANKS
FOR BEING A
DROP IN MY BUCKET
As you read the below
parable think about how you matter and how you make a difference.
1 Corinthians 12:4-12
says diversity is a gift from God; “There
are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of
ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God
who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation
of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom
through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same
Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by
the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another
prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various
kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the
same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just
as He wills. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the
members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.”
Here is the parable by Reverend
Christopher Buice called, Higgins –The Drop with
a Dream --- “Once
upon a time there was a drop of water named Higgins. Higgins was no ordinary
drop of water. He was a drop with a dream. Higgins lived in a valley where it
had not rained in a very longtime, so all the lovely green grass was turning
brown, all the beautiful flowers were wilting, and all the trees were starting
to droop. Higgins had a dream that one day the valley would be a beautiful
place again. But what could he do? After all, he was only a drop of water. One
day Higgins decided to travel and tell others about his dream. All the other
drops listened very politely, but no one believed that his dream would come
true. “Higgins,” said one, “get your head out of the clouds. You can’t spend
your whole life dreaming.” Higgins decided that he had to do something to make
his dream come true. So he began to think and think and think. One day, as he
was walking by a rusty old bucket, he got an idea. “If enough of us drops of
water got together in this bucket,” Higgins thought, “there would be enough
water to sprinkle on a few flowers to help them grow and become beautiful again!”
Eagerly, Higgins told
everyone his great idea. But everyone thought he was being foolish. “That
Higgins is nothing but a dreamer,” they said. Higgins decided he had to do
something to convince the others that he was right. So he said to them, “I don’t
know about you, but I’m getting into the bucket! I hope some of you will join
me. Then there might be enough water to help at least some flowers grow
beautiful again.” So Higgins ran as hard as he could, hopped way up in the air,
and landed with a kerplunk in the bottom of the bucket. And there he sat . . .
JUST A DROP IN THE BUCKET. For a long time Higgins was very lonely. It seemed
like no one else was going to join him. But after awhile some of the other
drops could see that the grass was dying and the flowers were wilting and the
trees were drooping. They all agreed that something must be done. Suddenly, one
drop shouted, “I’m going in the bucket with Higgins!” And he leaped through the
air and landed— kerplunk —in the bucket. Then two other drops yelled, “Wait for
us!” And they hopped through the air and landed in the bucket. Then ten drops
jumped through the air into the bucket. Then 30. Then 50! And then hundreds of
drops came from all around just to hop in the bucket! Soon, the bucket was
completely full of water. But there were still more drops that wanted to join,
so they found another bucket and hopped in. Before long, there were two buckets
of water—then three—then four—then ten—and then hundreds— and then thousands of
buckets of water! Along came a powerful breeze that blew over all the buckets,
and all the water flowed together to make a mighty stream. Everywhere the water
flowed, the grass turned green again and the flowers bloomed and the trees
stood tall and straight once more.
All this happened
because Higgins had a dream and his dream came true. Because he knew that
although he was just a drop in the bucket, enough drops in the bucket make a
bucketful, and when there are enough buckets with the wind behind them, then
justice will roll down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
I have been
blessed to be a drop in many of your buckets. As I move to become the pastor at
Burrton and Pleasant Grove United Methodist Churches, I trust your buckets will
continue to overflow and drip into streams not yet revealed. I’m excited about
my new opportunities and thank you all for providing me with a fuller bucket to
share with others. Blessings,
Pastor Alan
