“For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.”

The musical Hamilton has the lyrics, “I’m not giving away my shot”.  It references the opportunity that Alexander Hamilton had been given to make an impact on the founding of our Country with his knowledge and ideas. At the same time, the “shot” refers to the bullets fired in the duel that killed his son and later, himself.  The “shots” represent both success and tragedy at the same time.  Maybe, it’s a little like the “shots” of vaccine that are now being distributed around the world.  They represent the hopeful future of when the pandemic is behind us, but the pent up demand and frustration that comes with not enough, poor distribution practices, decisions on who and when should receive them all remind us of how hard all of this is on us; all the while people are still dying.  In sports, we have to take a shot to score and we also depend on others to provide and assist us to give us our shorts.  The same is true in business.  In all, we need to not take for granted or make useless our shot when given and we have to admire and be grateful to those who sacrificed and gave up something to be sure that we have gotten and will get our future shots to succeed.  Shots are taken and shot are given. Let’s be grateful for both and never waste what is given to us.

God has given us just one life and He challenges us to use it wisely and to His glory. I was reflecting in the 25th Chapter of Matthew on what are these areas that He wants to see us serve Him and what can we do with the shot at life that He has given us. The words in Verses 35-36 reminded me of where our shots should be taken with those who are, “Hungry, Thirsty, Strangers, Naked, Sick and in Prison.  If we are looking on how to not give way the shot at this amazing life we have been given, we need to look no further than figure out how we can serve any or all on that list.

Reference: Matthew 25: 35-36 (New Living Translation)