I am burdened.
There is a phrase that we use that goes something like, "every time I turn on the news, I see something else bad". There are so many versions of this, but it isn't a phrase. It is real life. Every morning I do wake up I turn on the Today Show and they are reporting another tragedy that happened while I was sleeping. It's not a phrase. It isn't something that we just say. It is something that happens in real life. So we do we stop watching the news?! Because we can't handle it? Because it brings you down? Because you want to ignore it? Because you're scared to step out in faith?
I know I'm not the only one who noticed Facebook on Mother's Day & Father's Day this year. Did you see how oddly sweet it was? Did you notice what a pleasure it was to scroll through and see people expressing gratitude and loving words? Does this mean life is perfect? Absolutely not, but it was unfortunately strange how kind the words were. I made a comment about how I wish Facebook, and honestly our world, could be that kind every day. Someone commented "well that isn't how our society is". This makes my heart even heavier. Just because that isn't how we are, doesn't mean that we are stuck in this pit. It doesn't mean that we all can't work together to change the direction for good. The state of our society isn't an excuse, but the complete motivation.
We are commanded to love our neighbors. Do you know who your neighbor is? The person you least want to be your neighbor & love is the one you are commanded to love. It is EASY to love your friends and family (mostly), but it is hard to love your enemy. It is hard to love someone who is different from you, or someone who takes you out of your comfort zone, but that is the second greatest commandment.
We can't complain about the state of our world if we have no intention of whole-heartedly participating in turning the negativity ship 180 degrees. Do not leave it up to someone else. Do not think that this responsibility lies on the shoulders of someone else. It's your turn. It's my turn. DO SOMETHING!
advocate for the helpless
love
listen
smile
hug
be less focused on your problems & your agenda; instead, put yourself last....which is not the norm for our society but that doesn't mean that it isn't possible
love
adopt
laugh
be the salt of the earth
give
feed the hungry
be different
don't take everything so personally; not everything is a personal offense
don't take everything so personally; not everything is a personal offense
forgive
don't just sympathize, empathize
smile at strangers.....they're not that different from you
communicate like you speak to your best friend
give grace
love
be different
offer the benefit of the doubt
console
act
heal
love
love
love
STOP shaking your fist and DO something!
STOP shaking your fist and DO something!
"Do Something"
I woke up this morning
Saw a world full of trouble now
Thought, how’d we ever get so far down
How’s it ever gonna turn around
So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?”
Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of
People living in poverty
Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, “God, why don’t You do something?”
He said, “I did, I created you”
If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something
I’m so tired of talking
About how we are God’s hands and feet
But it’s easier to say than to be
Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves
It’s alright, “somebody else will do something”
Well, I don’t know about you
But I’m sick and tired of life with no desire
I don’t want a flame, I want a fire
I wanna be the one who stands up and says,
“I’m gonna do something”
If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something
We are the salt of the earth
We are a city on a hill (shine shine, shine shine)
But we’re never gonna change the world
By standing still
No we won’t stand still
No we won’t stand still
No we won’t stand still
If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something
Saw a world full of trouble now
Thought, how’d we ever get so far down
How’s it ever gonna turn around
So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?”
Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of
People living in poverty
Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, “God, why don’t You do something?”
He said, “I did, I created you”
If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something
I’m so tired of talking
About how we are God’s hands and feet
But it’s easier to say than to be
Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves
It’s alright, “somebody else will do something”
Well, I don’t know about you
But I’m sick and tired of life with no desire
I don’t want a flame, I want a fire
I wanna be the one who stands up and says,
“I’m gonna do something”
If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something
We are the salt of the earth
We are a city on a hill (shine shine, shine shine)
But we’re never gonna change the world
By standing still
No we won’t stand still
No we won’t stand still
No we won’t stand still
If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
It’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something
