A while back I heard Donald Miller speak and he said something that I can really get into. One of my fellow listeners raised their hand and asked Don what his thoughts were about the church of tomorrow. Was he pessimistic or optimistic? His answer was easy, he said that he was very optimistic because the ‘new’ church/Christians now view social justice as a spiritual discipline. In other words, helping people is important again (Kinda like it was for JC).
Here’s the rub, I don’t really care about the world. I’ve blogged about all this before. For nearly a week I thought that there was someone named Katrina who was murdering people (or assassinating, it depends on their importance really). I saw headlines like “Katrina kills many”, and I thought, “wow, that sucks”. Granted, I had just been holed up in a hospital having a baby, but it just goes to show my ignorance. In my heart of hearts I don’t care what happens to the children of Somalia. I should, but I don’t. I want to, but I do nothing about it. It’s kind of like the CS Lewis poem where he says that a scholars parrot may talk greek. I am that parrot. I can talk the stuff good, but when it comes down to the real fact of the matter I’m simply a parrot reciting what I’ve heard.
So now I ask this, oh dearest Blogmunity, where do I begin? How do I learn about the pains of the world and then what do I do about it? How do I keep up? How do I become politically aware and then make informed decisions? I already care enough about my immediate community and feel a deep sense of calling to serve them. But what about the world in a greater sense? Shouldn’t I care? Do you?
Musings From The Ground Up
Initiating a new grassroots movement in downtown Vancouver
I don't know any kids in Somalia either… It's not that I don't care, it's that I don't know. I have a hard time trying to figure out whom I should save, as if I could save anyone. What a bummer!So I have tried to stop asking God to bless me as I change the world and get on board where God is changing the world because it's already blessed.Check out http://www.one.org or <a href="http://www.worldvision.orgwww.worldvision.org<br />Do you have $10? Find a way to triple it and then give it away.It’s only a drop in the bucket, but at least the bucket is not empty.I know, leave the country and meet some Somalian kids. If you don't care about them when you return and want to make a difference in their lives, I'm afraid you will only be a person who ends up murdered.Better than assassination, to be a martyr! How about Afghanistan?
I agree, I think it's just because you have not met any Somalian kids. When you (I) hear about all the pain in the world, it feels so abstract. You can know that it sucks, but you can't feel that is sucks. You can get tickets to Somalia here: http://www.expedia.com
Ryan, I happen to know a girl from Somalia!!! I'll get her number for you if you want it. The truth is, there are people who know about whats going on in the world and care, or not, and its the same for our own communities, but we need people who care about one or the other. i think its ok to not be as informed about the world if you don't care about it, but are passionate about your community and are stepping up to make a difference there. My blog as links to several places to start… International Rescue COmmittee, the One Campaign, World Vision, idealist.org… if you want to be informed, started reading the news, like at BBC.com. or you can begin by contacting your old friends in lisbon, i know there are plenty of people who are in contact with say, Africa and Brazil, as well as as the Portugese themeselves. The world is all around you… if you use your resources much can be accomplished. (Sorry about the long comment, this topic is sorta my thing right now)
get a subscription to Newsweek. Or read Pink Is The New Blog. there are real cheap trips on iExplore.com. Do you guys have the commercials for giving blood where the guy writes letters but just gets coupons for more jeans. they say that Saving The World is Hard, Saving A Life Isn't. Dontate Blood. It's really easy. I don't think I like how they go about it, but donating blood is really easy. Start small and work your way up. You should make your church do all the work for you… oh, wait… you are the church. nevermind. it's too late for me and I'm just rambling. Listen to Lisa. It's kind of her thing right now.
start small. that's a good start. sign up to get emails from somewhere like moveon.org or another organization that supports something you think you could get passionate about. the problem is, there are so many things to be involved in. you can't keep up with it all. so you have to pick something that you think is important. for example, i started walking in the strides against breast cancer walk three years ago and that was a good start for me (you can join my team if you want . . . it's only a 3 mile walk).we only have so much time and energy, but if we use it to bless someone at least that's a start. if you don't want to get involved in something half a world away because it doesn't resonate with you, try doing something here in your hometown.blessings!!!let me know if you need buddies to do these scary things with you!
Start in your largest spheres of responsability: Home, Church, community. I am sure that ways to help in other places will become apparent if you are open to helping where you already are.Here's a thought: Jesus, as far as we know, never left a very small area during his ministry, but instead tried to start a movement that would help to redeem the world.I'd like to help everyone, but if I tried to focus on that, I'd be so hopeless I'd never do anything.
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Best regards from NY! here