The neighborhoods around San José, California, are famous for their garages. Behemoth companies such as Hewlett Packard, Google, and Apple all started out in humble garages around here.The Steves (Jobs and Wozniak) didn’t sit around saying, “If only we had more help.” Instead, they said things like, “We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here?” (Steve Jobs).
 

 
The thing about universe denters is they don’t wait until they are big and powerful to start hammering. They start with what they have, and they hammer and hammer and hammer at the very limits of their ability believing they are making a difference.
We who are in parish ministry—especially RCIA ministry—can learn from this. We have to ask ourselves, everyday, how can we make a difference with what we have?
Do you really need better leadership to make a difference? Can you provide more leadership to fill in the gap?
Are you waiting for more team members before you can make a difference? What difference can you make with the gifts of the team you do have (even if your team is only you)?
Do you have to wait for more sponsors to make a difference? Can you find a way to increase the impact of the sponsors you do have?
Do you have to have more catechumens to make a difference? Can you, today, start introducing people to Jesus Christ even if they are not catechumens?
Do you have to know more to make a difference? How can what you know right now make a difference?
Do you need a better worship space? Unless there are renovation plans in the works, you have what you have. How will you use that space to make a difference?
Do you need a better meeting space? What is stopping you from using the space you have to make a difference?
Do you need a bigger budget to make a difference? What if you you only had Jesus’ budget to feed the 5,000? Could you make a difference with that?
Do you need more time? Can you find a way to make a difference with the time you have?
You get the point. Maybe eventually you will need more leadership, more help, more resources. Worry about those things tomorrow. Today, focus instead on what the Holy Spirit has given you. How will you make a difference with that—just that?
There is a canticle from Morning Prayer that reads:

For even though the fig does not blossom,
nor fruit grow on the vine,
even though the olive crop fail,
and fields produce no harvest,
even though flocks vanish from the folds
and stalls stand empty of cattle.
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord
and exult in God my savior. (Hab 3:15-19)

Even if it seems we have nothing, we have enough. We have enough to rejoice in the Lord. And that makes a difference.
 

 

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