Shine in the Dark

As a volunteer missionary who has worked on the African continent, and visited a few countries in others, the number one question I get is, ‘Why don’t you stay in this country and do (fill in the blank)?’ The number two question is usually, ‘What can I do to help you do the work?’

While I do appreciate the second one (because the work doesn’t run on air), I like to tie people’s second question into the first one. ‘Why don’t YOU start to do (fill in the blank)?’

It reminds me of this quote:

But I would change it. I would like to tell people, ‘Don’t just look for the helpers. BE the helper!’

The tiniest candle gives a real bright light when the room is dark, and instead of focusing on the negative issues that you see on the 24-hr news cycle or on social media, I’ve been focusing my efforts on bettering the world where I can and where I am. I may not change what’s going on in the Ukraine or in the Mideast, but my kids still need to be fed and homeschooled.

Paul B. Taubman, II is doing his part by running the Ultimate Blog Challenge this month (April, 2026).

If everyone just lights one little candle the whole world would glow, so let’s each do our part to dispel the darkness that we see creeping in.

In Jocko’s words: