Dear Friends,

Occasionally you will hear a story through the media that speaks to the heart of the Gospel. Such was the case of Dr. Trey Wilson, a dentist practicing on Madison Avenue in New York. A number of years ago, CNN reported that Dr. Wilson left his lucrative dental practice to establish a clinic in Kenya where there is one dentist for every 60,000 Kenyans.
In an interview Dr. Wilson briefly described the posh lifestyle he was living in New York, but then said that he had a revelation that without much effort he could make a real difference; so he relocated his practice to Kenya where he and a staff of volunteers provide free dental care. By the time he arrives at the clinic in the morning there may be 400-500 people already in line. It is also commonplace for him to treat 4 year olds that need up to 20 teeth extracted. In 2006, Dr. Wilson's clinic treated over 1200 people.
Preachers have a proclivity to jump on a story like Dr. Wilson's - as I am now doing - and use it as an example of sacrificial service to others. However, the crux of Dr. Wilson's story extends beyond the obvious, namely a person with the gifts and graces - like those of Trey Wilson - has the resources to make a dramatic impact as far away as Kenya. Most of us do not live the lifestyle of a Madison Avenue dentist; so we cannot directly identify with him.
Where I think all of us can connect with Dr. Wilson's example is at the point where he pushed his limits and made them wider than perhaps he thought they could stretch. The Bible is full of stories of God's People pushing their limits from Adam and Eve leaving the Garden to Israel fleeing Egypt to Joseph's "You're what?" when Mary broke the news to him. The disciples and the apostles certainly pushed their limits and occasionally wound up bickering among themselves about it.
I do not know anything about Trey Wilson's faith, or even if he claims to have one. I do not even know if he still practices in Kenya. I do know that God has worked through him to make a difference. I also think it would behoove us to heed the wisdom he expressed in the same interview, "All of us have the capacity to be of service ... all of us are more resourceful than we think. . . "
Dr. Wilson is right on target. We ARE more resourceful than we think, but it is up to us to push our limits in generous and faithful ways. Most of us are not called to do something so dramatic that it makes the rounds on the cable news networks. The biggest difference we make happens within the boundaries of face-to-face relationships. I do not know what your limits are; but I do know that as you push your boundaries to spread them wider, the same God who walked with Adam and Eve when they left the comfort and security of the Garden will walk with you as well and your generosity will become a blessing to others.