Being the Change

I love this site.  You want to know why?
Different people from all over can share their ideas and no one is judged, no one is ridiculed, no one is condemned, and people are respected for the things that are important in their lives.  I feel that this is what God has wanted all along.  Some people are so quick to judge that they lose sight of who the person is inside, what the person's background may be.  They try predict how the person is, when they don't even have the slightest clue.  A person who is compassionate and caring for the needs of others and those who want to help someone rather than judge them at first glance, is someone who strives to make a difference and be the change in someone else's life. 

I love how this site emphasizes the fact of being the change.  I feel that to be the change in the world, you have to recognize the needs in the world and put others needs before your own.  That is what makes the difference.  People in our society now are so....selfish.  I know that is blunt, but most people like to think of their needs as most important.  With technology advancing we have the " I pod"  the "I touch", "MYspace".  We crave tangible items that we touch and that we can use for ourselves.  When this is the case, the abstract feelings of love, compassion, care, and kindness are put on the backburner.

Being the change is recognizing the importance of the abstract and using them to help others.

Last summer I read an amazing book.   

Be the Change.  The title in and of itself catches my attention at first glance.  The very thing that I want to do lies within the title of a book.  Page after page and quote after quote, the author, Zach Hunter, gives me such inspiration for myself, the future, and most importantly, for others.  Through his examples and stories of Our Nation's greatest leaders throughout history, and even through his story alone, a passion stirs inside of me.  A young man, who is 17 years old, has had a book published, a modern abolitionist campaign since the age of 12, and he has toured the country to speak of the cruelty of slavery. If he could impact the country in such a way, could I as well?

            I want to ‘be the change' that someone sees.  I want to act in such a way, not to gain recognition, but rather to inspire just as this book and the author inspires me.  One of my favorite parts of the book is from the foreward in a letter to Zach Hunter.  Jon Foreman from Switchfoot wrote, "Trust only the one who empowers you to think and speak and breathe differently than the headlines.  He who created the foundations of the world is still creating.  His eyes are on the oppressed and the broken."  As I glance over those words over and over again, I am reminded that the faith that I have can push me to be different and be the change in others' lives.  The book also impacts me to go against society's norm of being all consuming, but rather want help others.  Even the slightest action in someone else's life can make a difference.  This is compassion and passion.

            Passion is my favorite part of the book.  While reading, the author takes me into a segment of William Wilberforce's life and how William Wilberforce had such a passion for the abolition of slavery.  William Wilberforce did all that he could to stop the slave trade.  From petitions to pamphlets, he showed commitment, dedication, and perseverance; the actions of someone who truly wants change.  Questions arise inside of me as I continue to read.

What if we all used our goals for the needs of others, and put them into action? What if we used the love, ambition, hope, respect, and care we have and use them to help others?  If we were that change, there would be no greed, the biggest problem in our world today.  What if we were that change that people see, and what if we were that change that inspired others to create change?  What if we, as individuals, were not afraid to be role models, be different, and step out of our worlds to fight someone else?

  Be the Change impacts, stimulates and challenges me to be more than someone who helps others, but rather be someone who has a passion and commitment for helping them.