A few days ago I was at the baskteball courts with a kid named Aaron. Aaron is 14 years old and like every 14 year old who loves playing basketball, his goal is to reach the NBA. We were doing shooting drills and competitions for almost 2 hours, and during that time he kept asking questions. We talked about lot's of things- life, sports and school. He kept telling me about his dream of playing in the NBA someday. Finally, I asked him how old he thinks he'll be when he makes it to the NBA. He said he thought he'd be 20 or so. I said, "So you're talking about the year 2018- but do you really have any control over what happens in 2018?" As we talked about it, I just tried to convince him that he can't live that far in the future- in fact, the only place that he can live is right here in 2011. I wanted him to stop trying to be a star in the NBA and start trying to be the best basketball player he can be RIGHT NOW!

The same thing that I was trying to teach Aaron that day applies to me as well. I sometimes look around me and see so many things that I could do- things that I want to do. I see needs and opportunities EVERYWHERE. I dream about what could be someday, and I long to have a deeper and more profound impact on the world around me. But just like Aaron, I can't control that future- it is all in God's hands. All I have is today- April 18, 2011. All I can do is go before God and very humbly ask Him what I should do and ask Him to enable me to be all that I can be RIGHT NOW.

Right now there are so many lives I can invest in. I have 29 students at Carrington Heights who I am able to teach the Bible to each week. I don't have much time with them, and sometimes I think it cannot possibly be enough to have an impact, and yet, as God's Word is sown, He is able to produce growth.

I keep finding myself drawn to a place called Flamingo Court- a very large, very poor block of apartments where I get to go at least once a week. I spend my time there just praying mostly. Each week I climb the stairs to the top of the building, praying as I go. There is one guy there who I always seem to see and talk to- his name is Kimal and I hope and pray that God will save this young man. We've had so many conversations and I've been able to share the truth with him, but he is enslaved to sin and blinded by addiction, the pain of his past and his own pride. I hope for a day when Kimal will be the one praying for the people of Flamingo Court. For today I can only seek to invest in his life and wait for God to work.

I am surrounded by young people of every age- almost every day I am able to spend time with kids that I tutor like Michael, Gabrielle and Luyanda, or teens from our church like Lunga, Andile and Sne. I also have the opportunity to spend time with friends like Norman, Taurai, and Erwin. I have no program to offer them- I have only myself, my testimony and the truth of God's Word. These things I will invest without reservation as God enables me, and I will pray that the Spirit of Christ will work in me and in those around me. By God's grace, I will give myself fully to His work RIGHT NOW.