You Can Rock The World

There are moments in time when it seems that the greater the number of voices that are speaking, the more each individual voice can be heard.  For example, consider Rosa Parks.  One woman refusing to move from her bus seat would have been nothing more than an annoyance if the rumblings of the civil rights movement had not already begun.  No one would have heard her voice if not for the crowd that was murmuring, then speaking, then shouting and the world was changed.

For most of my life I have held on to the idea that one person can make a difference.  I have held onto that hope despite the evidence of my eyes that sent whispering thoughts to my mind saying, "Maybe a pebbles worth of difference, but real difference? Not likely."  Now, thanks to the internet, social media, the state of the economy, the Occupy Movement, and the struggles for freedom taking place throughout the world, that whisper has changed to "You can make a difference! Today!"  With the internet and social media, if a person has an idea or even just a word of support, that word can travel quickly to reach hundreds of people.  The state of the economy has made the economic injustice of the world almost undeniable.  The Occupy Movement says that we are not alone in our frustration and our desire for transformation.  The struggles for freedom around the world give us evidence that change can happen.

The many voices crying out for justice amplify your voice and your actions.  You can speak up and say, "NO ONE has a right to hoard billions of dollars worth of resources so long as ANYONE in this world is hungry." Even if you are one of the many who prefers to be a silent observer there are ways you can speak up.   You can speak up with your dollars and say, "I WILL NOT support mega banks and mega corporations at the expense of my neighbor."   You can speak up by being an agent of peace in your community.  When you hear the gossip begin, turn your back or turn the topic.  When someone is in need, let your impulse be generosity over judgment.

Then there are our places of worship.  I am only intimately acquainted with Christianity so that is the only faith to which I can speak.  My reading of the Gospels reveals to me that Jesus taught and healed.  Yet our communities of faith preach week after week and only sprinkle in the occasional service projects or giving opportunity.  Why?  As followers of Jesus we have heard that we are saved by the love of God, it is only right that we speak that Good News.  Yet Jesus did not walk about on this earth only telling people about someday.  Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of God is amongst us now.  And he healed and healed and healed.   Jesus called us to feed his sheep, to give the thirsty a drink, and the naked clothing as if they were him.  Our actions working to feed all of God's sheep should be just as much a part of who we are as our worship.  Yet, most often, this has not been the case.  Now a movement is afoot to move our society away from "let's see who can get the most" toward "let's see that all have enough."  Should we stand silent?  Jesus says, "Feed my sheep," (John 21)

One person can make a difference.  With Christ at work within you, your voice will rock the world.

Whether you're a Christian or not. 

People of Christian Churches Confess to People of The Occupy Movement

Reflecting on Lynn's blog, "Why Will YOU Occupy?" from earlier this week, I pondered how the church could best respond to the Occupy Movement.  Confession seems appropriate.  I was inspired to write the below.  

People of Christian Churches Confess to People of The Occupy Movement

We confess that we have too often cried “God bless America,” too often claimed our country as “Christian,” and too seldom called our country to repentance when its ways have strayed far from the ways of Christ.

We confess that we have sometimes shied away from preaching and doing justice when we feared it would detract from the offering plate.

We confess that while often generously bandaging wounds and feeding the hungry, we have seldom addressed the systemic injustices that created the wounds and the hunger. 

We confess that we have focused on personal morality while corporate immorality devastated our economy and our lives.

We confess that we have allowed fear to curb our generosity, judgment to quench our compassion, and despondency to render us powerless.

We confess that we have avoided the public sphere and politics, or have chosen sides based upon particular issues or trends, rather than standing up to decry a system of greed that has lost any sense of serving the people.

We confess these things with humility knowing we had not the courage to speak up until you did.  Therefore, we will not claim this confession for any particular denomination or church body lest we take credit where no credit is due.  We will simply share this confession as people of Christian faith.  We will lend our presence to the Occupy movement merely as fellow citizens, not waving denominational banners or using the movement as PR for Christianity.  We will find our lost humility and serve God’s people....all of God's people, without an eye to our own self-interest.  We stand with the 99% speaking out against greed for the sake of the worldwide 100%.

I confess these things as part of the larger Christian Church.  If you would like to join me in the confession or express your support to those who do, please comment below or  "like" this.  Please also consider sharing this so that others may confess as well and so that those who have been hurt may hear our confession.  

Grief and Hope: Working for a Better World

by Sheri


It has been nearly 13 years since my first husband died.  I was all set to share with you a letter I wrote to him the other day.  I am totally chickening out.  It was just too personal.  
Yet I still want to share some of the thoughts because I think there is a message there that is important, maybe even crucial to our world.  


When Matt died my grief was full of longing for all the wonderful things he could have done in this world.  He was full of passion and a sense of duty and would have done a lot of good.  Part of my focus then was trying to make some of that good happen even without him.  Recently I have realized I need to change that focus.


Matt died from an accident at work.  The story is complicated and personal.  But there were things that could have been done differently and perhaps changed the outcome.  So, to  me part of what took Matt's life was just the way the world works.  Business is business and sometimes the consequences are high.


So, now I want to focus on changing the way the world works. I want to work to make the world a place that is not ruled by "business is business",  self-interest, and self-protection. 


Really the results are not much different.  Some of the good Matt would have done accomplishes the same thing.    But the difference to me is huge.  It is the difference between clinging to a future which can never be and stretching for a future that is a sure and certain hope.  


Many die from the "the way the world works".  Some die from hunger and poverty, as those who have much take even more until there is not enough to go around.  Some die from disease caused by pollutants that we put into our environment in our search for ever more stuff.  Some die from wars and violence, as those who have much fearfully protect it and those who do not lash out in anger.  Recently I have come to realize that many die from diseases, accidents, and even natural disasters that could possibly have been prevented or cured or protected against if so many resources and brilliant minds were not being directed towards war machines and the selling of more stuff.


Grief is such a helpless feeling.  There is nothing to do to bring a loved one back.  Matt is gone.  No cliche will change that.  But those of us burdened with grief, (and, Lord, we are many), do not have to be burdened also with helplessness.  We can rise up and change the world.  We can live our lives working for change, moving toward a day when the only grief that is prevalent in this world will be saying goodbye to one who has lived a long and fruitful life.  I can just hear you all saying, "Like that could ever happen."  It is funny to be writing this in connection with Matt.  He would have probably said that too.  


But, it is imperative that we are hopeful.  If we give in to despair we look at the world and say, "Forget it, this is as good as it gets."  I will not accept that.  We can do better.  I will hope.  As hard as I grieved for Matt, I will hope that much harder.  With hope, change will happen.


I know I cannot single handedly change the world.  I am not planning some huge self-sacrificing gesture in that interest.  But, when I make decisions in my life I will try to choose what changes the focus away from "business is business".  The wonderful thing is, in honoring Matt in this way I also make a better, safer future for the family I have now.  And I have a great help mate in doing that with a husband who is committed to teaching young people.  


Clearly I will need help beyond my wonderful husband.  Human beings cannot change the world on their own.  But, I will let that "sure and certain hope" work on you as is appropriate for your life.  Matt had a faith that tended toward irreverence and skepticism, especially regarding the institutional church.  He knew that saying "Jesus... Jesus... Jesus" didn't necessarily mean you were talking about Jesus at all.  So, it seems appropriate that I leave it at that.