I am going to change the world.
12 Sep 2009 1 Comment
Max Lucado wrote “Your life has a plot; your years have a theme.”
Saving the world and how we’re going to do that is one of “those” topics; it’s the one we bring up over and over again while we’re sitting around drinking hot chocolate with best friends, or writing a blog, or sharing our hearts with our mentors, or speaking from the platform. Everyone has something in them that wants to bring about a change, contribute to something bigger. We want to play a lead part in the drama unfolding around us, but for most of us, the part we envision is one that brings balance, or justice, or equality, or more importantly, brings Jesus to the center and lets Him sweep away the darkness. We want freedom, we want life in abundance, we want joy. Because something in us recognises that this world – the way it is – is wrong. And we want it to be made right.
We want to “stand up and be counted (on)”. We want to “choose to be a blessing for life”. I am no different.
I have to confess: the last few months have been dry for me. I have been desperate to find a way to make a difference, and I have despaired at the way I sense God nearer than my skin one day and further than the moon the next. I haven’t written much, partly due to having writer’s block and partly due to a shift in the way I think that makes it hard to communicate; where I used to think in lines and words, I have been thinking in concepts, and struggling to put words to them. Changing the world one heart at a time is one of those concepts that leaves me feeling helpless when I start a sentence with “I want to change the world” and trail off with “but I don’t know how”. Last night I was listening to Josh Wilson’s album “Trying to Fit the Ocean in a Cup” and it felt like things that have been disconnected, that left me despairing because I couldn’t see how they fit, began to fall into place. I suddenly had something to say and so I wrote – later I will post something on the creative writing blog.
All over the world, young men and women are making inroads into the kingdom of darkness and offering change. Hayden Sanders does it through personal influence and brilliant business skills. Claire Tyner is on a journey to bring healing and restoration in one of the most beautiful ways I can think of. Shari Round ministers constantly to those around her by being His light amongst other lights (better website will be up later). Amy Beth has been changing hearts and lives of girls for quite some time. Some of these people I am honored to know personally, some of them I don’t. I’ve blog-stalked Amy Beth for several years, but I don’t think I ever comment; I just sit and be blessed by her heart. My point is that here are young people who are thinking deeply, daring to love, caring about what matters, and changing the world around them. There aren’t many of us willing to put hands and feet to our dreams; but those of us who are willing to make fools out of ourselves for something greater will do great things. We can, we must, and we will.
This morning I woke up knowing: I will change the world, and I have something to give. I shared my heart this morning with a friend I knew would understand in one simple sentence: today is a good day because I have something to offer. And I’m going to. Saving the world is a dangerous business; we don’t have much time. I’m starting with today.
THE SAINTS – Josh Wilson
To those whose steps aren’t steady
To those whose hearts are heavy
To those whose faith is all but gone
To those that struggle on, struggle on
Come and lay your burdens down
Come and lift your empty hands
You are not alone, we are not alone,
So hold on
To all the saints that keep on praying
And all the children that keep on waiting
And all those that sing the savior’s song
Lift your hands up and keep on leaning
And hold tight to the hope we are given
For we know that we won’t be waiting long
No, we won’t be waiting long
Can you hear the music playing?
Can you feel the dreamers waking
We are running towards redemption
We are never standing still!
Through the problems and the pain
Through the striving and the strain
You are not alone, we are not alone
So hold on!
He is coming soon, He is coming soon
He will take His bride, He will make her new
He is coming soon, He is coming soon
To carry us home
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