I came across this story not too long ago…

The Pit

A man fell into a pit and couldn’t get himself out.

A subjective person came along and said, “I feel for you down there.”

An objective person walked by and said, “It’s logical that someone would fall down there.”

A Pharisee said, “Only bad people fall into pits.”

A mathematician calculated how deep the pit was.

A news reporter wanted the exclusive story on the pit.

An IRS agent asked if he was paying taxes on the pit.

A self-pitying person said, “You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen my pit.”

A fire-and-brimstone preacher said, “You deserve your pit.”

A psychiatrist observed, “The pit is just in your mind.”

A psychologist noted, “Your mother and father are to blame for your being in that pit.”

A self-esteem therapist said, “Believe in yourself and you can get out of that pit.”

An optimist said, “Things could be worse.”

A pessimist claimed, “Things will get worse.”

Jesus, seeing the man, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit.

I think the story illustrates how simple it is to help others. Many times we make it very complicated when it comes to being a lifter. But we are called to be lifters. Lifters lift people up to greater things. They reach out and use what they have to make a difference in the lives of others. They don’t see themselves with limitations, they see themselves with a responsibility. A responsibility to use their gifts and talents for the greater good. This responsibility they feel to do something significant far outweighs their feelings of self doubt and fear. Lifters are driven to lift others because they believe they are called to. It is not a blind duty they feel out of ritual, but a self belief they feel within themselves.

Don’t simply reveal to people their problems and issues, help them through them. Don’t simply state the obvious, help them navigate through it. Don’t be a thermometer that only can read the climate, be a thermostate that can change the climate in others. Help others turn up the heat in their life and get going on to greater things. Everyone needs thermostat type people in their life. Everyone needs someone to come along side of them and push them into greater things. Who is your thermostat? Who is the one that lifts you up when you are in need?

Who are you a thermostat for? Who are you lifting up? Be a pit lifter, helping others out of the pit they might be in.