WHAT CAN YOU DO

I remember being overwhelmed, sitting in my art studio at the time that was essentially a little hallway with shelves. I was overwhelmed by what I was seeing in the media about those in the Middle East. The terror that ISIS was and how they were harming people. On the one hand I felt the comfort of distance, knowing there wasn’t really anything I could do. I was just an American teenager. But on the other hand, I felt this deep conviction from my faith, to not grow numb. To not ignore the pain others feel. 

So I asked God, what can I do?!

And in response I felt the question whispered back to me, what can you do?

I couldn’t hop on a plane to rescue them, I alone could not end ISIS. But… I can draw? I can write? 

I heard the words, ‘Do What You Can’.

So I did.

I began work on a story based on Loren Eisely’s poem, The Starfish Thrower. It’s a story about a huge storm that leaves hundreds of starfish stranded on the seashore. When the sun rises, they are left to die from the heat, until a little boy walks by. He starts picking up the starfish one by one and throwing them into the sea. Two men walk up, laughing at his efforts. There is no way he can save them all! He’s just a boy! And there are so many, so much to do! 

He responds, “No, I can’t save them all, but for this one I can make a difference.”

The story didn’t seem like it could do much, but I made a Starfish Choice- maybe it wouldn’t do much but if it could do something, if it could make a difference for one, it would be worth it. I would try even if I didn’t know the outcome or the difference yet.

As I worked on it, I constantly thought of Mark chapter 6, where it talks about Jesus feeding the 5,000. When the disciples bring the fish and loaves to Jesus, they can only ask, ‘But what is this for so many?’

And the only thing Jesus says back is, ‘Have them sit down.’

Simple words that are an incredible invitation to trust him, it was as if Jesus was saying, you’ll see. Let me show you.

Fast forward 9 months and I have a finished book, no agent, and no idea yet where I will submit this book. This book that was my whole-hearted response to the question, what can I do?

Only God could have known within days I would be in contact with a publishing company in Atlanta, GA. Not just any company but one that invited me to use this book to raise funds for children who needed heart surgery in Iraq and Libya, for children who had been directly affected by ISIS.

So this is the question I ask myself when I am faced with harsh realities that are beyond my control. Racism, wars, sickness, poverty, faced with such overwhelming things- what can I do?

I know what I want to do. I want to fix it, I want to solve the problem. I want to hug everyone involved, who have been hurt, who have felt threatened, who have felt unsafe. I can sign petitions, raise awareness, donate resources, and all of these things make a difference. The culmination of little things make real changes in overwhelming situations, it is true. 

But it doesn’t make it any less overwhelming when the next injustice or virus hits the front pages and all the social media outlets.

I know what I want to do in these situations and I am aware of a lot of things I can’t do, mainly put a band-aid over real situations and fix it all by myself. 

So I ask myself, what can I do?

Well quite literally, I can draw.

I can write. 

I can listen.

Those are things I can do at any time and I don’t need thousands of followers or dollars to do it.

Often, I don’t imagine drawing pictures being the vaccine we need or the component to seal the divide of injustice we so often see. But… how can I use what I have, to do what I can, right where I am?

I began work on ‘What Color Is Today?’ with conversations of friends echoing in my head, specifically about diversity. The friends who have faced racism their entire life, those experiencing it now because of COVID-19, those who have read countless stories feeling excluded because of their skin colors or shape of their eyes. I have seen the posts of mixed families, wishing their kids could read a book with parents that looked like them- both white and black.

I can sign petitions, raise awareness, but I can’t keep my friends from the hatred and ignorance they often have to face. But… I can draw.

So, the diversity in ‘What Color Is Today’, is very intentional.

Natural curls on a little Girl of Color for my friend who was hesitant to let her hair go natural, because she didn’t grow up seeing it or having it celebrated.

A Father of Color dancing with his family, for the Father’s of Color I know that are showing up for their families. The one’s that provide and raise their children well. 

A Mixed family of white and latin culture, for my friend who wants her son to grow up seeing their family of mixed cultures and skin tones normalized and celebrated.

An Asian family celebrating and mourning their loss during the time of COVID-19, for my friends who have faced extreme hatred because of this pandemic. As a reminder that they are mourning as much as anyone, they have lost loved ones too. COVID-19 has not been partial to skin tone or ethnicity.

I can’t fix everything, but I can draw.

 I can use what I have to bring about change.

Sometimes change takes large leaps, other times it can use creativity.

And I don’t just mean creative outlets, I mean creative thinking, creative problem solving.

What is right in front of you? What is it that you can do?

When you are overwhelmed and don’t know what to do,

Ask yourself, what can you do?

Then start right where you are with what you have.

I can only imagine how much could change if we brought this kind of thinking into our workplaces, our friendships, and our thought process. If you want to see change- sign the petition, raise awareness, call your friends, and then what else can you do?

What is right in front of you?

My newest book, What Color Is Today, isn’t about racism or diversity but because of the question, I already knew what I could do. Be inclusive, be intentional, as I simply do what I can… draw.

I hope it is honoring and inclusive, as well as a tool for processing this difficult time with your children. And I hope you do the big things. Take the giant leaps for change.

But I also hope you’ll find the answer to this question,

What can you do?

What is right in front of you?