I have been toying with this idea for quite some time. The notion has been stuck in my head but mostly my heart, the thought of BECAUSE I CAN… not sure really why it keeps coming up but for at least 7 years it has been brought to my attention that I need to do something with this. I know there is so much talk about what we can not do but really there is always so much more we CAN do.
One of my earliest memories of the term, Because I can came up when a favorite Pastor of mine, Ronald Ball then with Woodlawn church would tease me about my working out. He would jokingly say, “I just do not understand why you want to run when no one is chasing you?” I think I would just say, Because I can. A few years ago a dear amazing friend Gabe had cancer and each time I would run while he could not I would think as I took those Grateful steps…. I will run for Gabe, Because I can.
I even shared with my friend Angie years ago that I felt I was being called to do something with these 3 words, Because I can. I have tried to run from it but it keeps meeting me at every corner and even though I am not quite sure what I am supposed to do I will just go ahead and do what I can… Because I can.
I was walking on the beach the other day, one of my most glorious,most reverent and thankful of things to do. While walking and jogging and humming to my happy tunes I sadly noticed all the Spring Break trash piled up along my pretty beach. My first thought was to be aggravated that people would do such a thing and garner a self-righteous stance. I quickly turned about and thought that instead of being angry or aggravated why not say a sweet prayer for the givers of the trash. Why not ask God to bless them and keep them safe while they are here and make their life a nice one. I also hoped that they may think next time but until they do I will gratefully say a prayer and pick up the trash…. Because I can.
As I was merrily cleaning the beach, I remember that Charlie Lahan for years could be seen up and down Laguna Beach picking up trash to make our beaches beautiful for the next round of folks. I also started thinking of those tele-marketers that will be calling the house soon and how for whatever reason I always have a soft spot for them. I always tell them that I am not in need of their product but I bet someone else may be and that I pray they have great success. I imagine that they have my name and they call me for training to raise their self-esteem. I will continue to be kind to them so in some small way I may make a difference in their day…. Because I can.
Still not sure where I am going with this but I suspect if I do what I can with what I have from where I am it will be revealed to me. I know that I have many people who I have watched do the Next right thing in life and all the people they have left better off by their journey. I know that I want to make a difference so perhaps Because I can can be the mantra of myself and others as we celebrate all of us even those that leave behind trash and tele marketers.
PCBDaily 
Love it. Although you are much more forgiving than I am when you say a prayer for those who leave their trash, I do join you in taking a bag with me each time I visit the beach so I can pick up whatever items I can reach, and remove them from our beautiful beaches. I know those same individuals who disrespect our beautiful, national treasure will one day bring their children back, and hopefully those of us who feel compelled to do what we can to keep it beautiful will have made enough difference that they are not vacationing in a sandy ashtray with their children.
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I really enjoyed your way of turning an often use phrase with “attitude” into a positive, Christlike way of serving. Thank you! You have inspired me to take more small positive steps “because I can”!
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