Give Someone a Drink of Water

To Start

Anytime I sit down to write a story, I am easily overwhelmed with not knowing what to write. I know something about the type of story I want to write. I certainly know how I want the reader to feel at the end.

And I always hope that the story will help people heal.

But before I start the details are obscure. I don’t know all of the characters. I don’t know all of the events. I don’t know who is going to hurt whom and how they will respond. I don’t know who will save the day and how.

My head spins with so many questions about the plot, I write nothing.

With writing, it can help to begin. To start. To write what you know. To stop waiting.

It can be a different story than you intended. It can lack the plot you hoped for. It can even suck. But write something.

The idea is that doing something is better than doing nothing.

And if we keep our intentions and efforts simple, then the work isn’t as overwhelming. Simple is less confusing. Simple is easy.

Where do I Begin?

The same can be with your life’s story and making a difference.

Too many wait because they don’t know where to start. They don’t know what to do. They are uncertain of how they can help. They haven’t decided what they would be good at.

It is easy to get overwhelmed with the possibilities. And then you do nothing because you don’t know the right place to begin.

Start with something simple. Start with something easy. Start with something everyone needs.

Offer someone a drink of water.

Not metaphorically. Literally. Ask people if they are thirsty. And if they say yes, then give them something to drink.

photo by Kate Dreyer (creative commons license)

• Take bottles of water to the park on a warm day.
• Go to the part of town where you know people live on the streets, and take water with you.
• Invite people over to your house and give them something to drink.

Then sit and be with them. Listen. Let them do all of the talking. Let them tell you their story.

You don’t need to do more. You don’t even need to know what to say. It’s best to say little. The water is enough.

Giving someone a drink of water doesn’t sound like much, but to a thirsty man it can mean the world.

At some point in our lives, all of us experience thirst.

Seeing More

Not only is doing something better than doing nothing, when you work we find your better ideas. You learn what your story should be about. You discover about what should happen next.

Starting can open your world up to new ideas and possibilities. Starting can help you see more.