Is everything meaningless?

Ecclesiastes 1:2 states, "Meaningless! Meaningless! Says the Teacher, utterly meaningless. Everything is meaningless." It's a dark and stark view that reflects a sense of hopelessness void of hope for the future. In times of crisis and challenge, it is hard to hold on to our faith in Christ. Even for those living in the western world, with its modern convenience, social structure, and economic capacity, also may feel that it is all meaningless, hopeless, and our faith in God was nothing but an illusion. If we think this way at times, just imagine if you're abandoned by your very own parents either through death or discarded and, as a result, became an orphan.

What faith would they have in God, self, others, and the world? What hope would they have in their future? Solomon's words can easily be their mantra that everything is meaningless and that there is no hope in humanity. However, the story of the Bible and the redemptive work of Christ does not end in despair. Instead, the hope is in Christ, and the responsibilities of Christians are to live out our value and work Christ has done in our lives by caring for those in need (Matthew 25:31-46). I wonder how many of us will say, "'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?' And he will answer, 'I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.'?" (Matthew 25:44-45).

The challenge of rescuing and creating a permanent solution to the orphan crisis seems daunting and almost impossible. After all, there are Christians, humanitarians, and organizations with the right heart and mind struggling to make a dent. Though the mission seems impossible, we are called to take action. I want to reflect on the true story, which is often called the "miracle of deliverance" after the fall of France in 1940. Some may have read the historical accounts, and others may have learned about it through the movie Dunkirk. It is a true story about courage. It's about the deliverance of hope. It is a testimony of what can happen when ordinary people take on the mantle to save others. Dunkirk's story and heroes are ordinary British citizens heeding the call to rescue nearly 400,000 allied troops trapped in the French Port of Dunkirk as German forces closed in around them. In this time of desperate need, it was the courageous leadership and people of Great Britain (boat owners of all size, shape, and experience) heeding the call to rescue allied troops facing inevitable defeat and death. With their boats numbering over 800, these private citizens were risking their own lives to save others as they navigated dangerous waters of English Channel. In the end, nearly 336,000 allied forces were rescued.

Imagine what we can accomplish to rescue orphans from the plight of bleak and hopeless future if we, as a body of Christ, pull together in a collective effort? The solution is not in government. The answer is not in some other entity, person, or church to do something about it. The solution is us! At Faith N Hope International Ministry, we spent past months strategizing and planning so that impact of our work is not short-term or fleeting, but it becomes transformative and life changing. It is about changing the life path for orphans that leads to a meaningful role. Would you consider partnering with us and pray for our work and an upcoming pilot project in Chang Mai, Thailand? When believers in Christ come together, we can do mighty things. The Operation that led to the "miracle of deliverance" at Dunkirk was called Operation Dynamo. Would you consider participating in the modern-day miracle of deliverance, Operation New Hope, by praying for and partnering in helping orphans restore faith in God and giving HOPE for a better future?