We live in precarious times. Everything is changing faster than we can mentally keep up. The idea of unplugging from everything and going off grid becomes more and more appealing, especially to this introverted gal. However, what I know is that I also do not want to go off grid. I love people too much. Which is ironic when you think about who I am as an introvert.
In fact, someone once told me that they just couldn’t figure me out. I was like a conundrum wrapped in an enigma. Thank you, I think? But maybe that is who we all are. We have faces we give to the world around us and then we have the way we live our life. They don’t always match up. Which is a problem to be honest. We are out of sync. Our words and our actions don’t align. Which brings me to the title of my blog…
I was driving with my husband the other day and we listen either to classic rock or 60’s music and the song “I’d Love to Change the World” by Ten Years After came on the radio. First, I love the song. Second, it is so timely for today. As a nation, we are obsessed with obtaining as much wealth as we possibly can. And we don’t seem to care who we hurt to get everything we want. And before you get upset and say, “I am not like that!” Let me continue…we the people, which means all of us, vote laws into place that marginalize people groups. We vote people into office who we hope will represent us and then they don’t. Mainly because once we vote, we do not send letters or emails to our representatives letting them know if we like or don’t like what they are doing. Why? Because we allow our lives to get too busy with stuff we think is important but is it really? And before you say, Beth you are getting rather judgmental…I am writing to myself too. I am just as guilty of being too busy. But anyway…the song, got me to thinking…
I would love to change the world, but I also know I am kidding myself if I think I can do anything to change anything. I am after all, just one person. But what I can do, and you all can too, is change yourself. We can all stop for a moment and reflect on how our words and our actions don’t match up and then how do we change ourselves. We want, at least I would hope we want, to be people of integrity which means our words and our actions should match.
The refrain of the song says this: “I’d love to change the world, but I don’t know what to do so I’ll leave it up to you.” There is a lot about that phrase that should bother you. Especially the last part: I don’t know what to do, so I will leave it up to someone else.” That is basically what it is saying. Leaving it up to someone else is a disaster waiting to happen. Leaving it up to someone else means that we aren’t doing anything. Leaving it up to someone else means they make the choices about what they are going to put into place. Leaving it up to someone else when things go in a direction we don’t like, means we have abdicated our right to complain because we left it all up to someone else. Why? Because we chose to not get involved.
So, let me ask a question: Do you really want to leave it all up to someone else? I hope you don’t. You may be asking, but what can I, one person do? Well, here are just a few random suggestions on how you can change, maybe not the world, but at least your corner. Be present to the people around you. Be kind…always…even when you don’t feel like it. (BTW…that one is hard) Give to charity. Volunteer at your church or the charity of your choice. Don’t over buy stuff. Stop using plastic…or at least try. Take only what you need and leave what you don’t need for someone else. Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose, or donate the things you don’t need…don’t let them end up in the landfills. Write a letter to your representatives telling them if you like or don’t like how they are doing their job. And their job is to represent you. Mentor a youth. Do the yard work for a shut in who can’t. Join a justice ministry to work with others to make system changes in your area. Take a day off for yourself to recharge your batteries so you can do all the wonderful things on this list as well as the ideas you have.
Here is the thing: together we can change the world…one small word, one small action, one small step at a time. As one person, you may not think you are doing much…BUT when we all do it together, we will see a seismic shift and our world will change.
Peace,
Beth
Beth's Blog 