How we can change the world

Anyone else feel like they’re fighting an uphill battle?  The Bible says“ And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up”. Galatians 6:9

My news feed is full of shared posts, articles, and videos responding to the horrific events that have taken place in the last few months.  I’ve been surprised that on one level or another I have agreed with most of what I have seen.  Should we have stricter gun laws?  Probably.  Could our mental health care be better?  Absolutely!  Are kids being exposed to too much violence?  Umm if it were up to me I would burn all of the violent video games out there (sorry, just saying). So it’s not that I disagree with what’s being shared.  What I keep thinking about is that violent acts of sin have been occurring since the beginning of time.  I’ve been reading through the Old Testament and guns or no guns people still managed take a lot of lives.  Please don’t try to debate me with about the statistics.  Stats was my least favorite course in college and I was terrified of teaching it to my kids this year.  Anyway, my point is that cold blooded murder is not new.  Sin is not new.  However, social media is.

We see the news stories the minute something happens.  We feel the need and the responsibility to respond right away.  We are a society full of people that have a solution, but nobody is willing to take action.  Yes, I’m describing the stereotypical “millennial” although I have seen many of the generation(s) before us doing the same thing.  We put our opinion out there and somehow feel like our job here is done.  Most of us don’t feel like we have any real political pull other than voting. “But I said it on Facebook so I’ve done my part, right?” 

Wrong.  What are you doing on the other side of that screen?  I’m not talking about participating in matches or calling your congressman.  I’m talking about how are you investing in the people in your day to day life?  Are you looking up from your phone and listening to what your 8 year old is saying to you?  Are you teaching your children how to be kind and a good friend? Are you teaching them that bullying is wrong and that words hurt?  If you are a believer how are you discipling those in the next generation to grow in The Word and to follow Jesus?  Is there still going to be sin?  Yep.  Will there still be devastating events?  Unfortunately so.  But I do believe that as your every day “average Joe” this is where we’re going to have the most influence.  One by one.  Relationship by relationship.  Even when it feels like an uphill battle.  Even when it feels like the top is out of reach and you just don’t know if you’re making a difference.  I truly believe this is how we can make a change.  This is how we can impact the world!