"Champions"

"Nothing in the world is the way it ought to be. It's harsh and cruel. But that's why there's us. Champions. It doesn't matter where we come from, what we've done or suffered, or even if we make a difference. We live as though the world was what it should be, to show it what it can be."

-From Angel, Season 4, Episode 1, "Deep Down".

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

-Anne Frank

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.  It's not.

-Dr. Seuss

When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world.  I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation.  When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town.  I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family.  Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family.  My family and I could have made an impact on our town.  Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.

-Author Unknown

I want to write a longer post on this, when I have the time. I'm still fact-gathering but I think it would make a splendid essay someday.

Ghandi (I think...) said, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." This speaks to me so much; I hold this quote as dearly as I do my favourite bible verses. 

To me, this quote says to put an end to sitting around whining about my pet peeves, but to do my part to make them so. For instance, some of you probably know my obsession with jaywalking. I witnessed two people hit while jaywalking--one of them was killed instantly; the other merely hurt her ankle. I do do a lot of whining about people who jaywalk and how it should be a capital offense especially if they're wearing black and doing it at night I mean what, but I do my part: I use the crosswalk. ALWAYS. I stop for people in the crosswalk. ALWAYS. And I sit on the curb yelling at people to use the cross walk OKAY THAT WAS ONE TIME.

It goes for more important issues, too. I hate it when political parties namecall instead of discussing the issues. So... I do my best to not namecall. I hate when people try to make everything the other person's fault. I ROYALLY SUCK AT THAT ONE but I try my best anyway. It's always better to take action than to complain. I do plenty of complaining but I try to take action. 

If you have no will to change it, you have no right to criticize it.  

- Author Unknown

Past the seeker as he prayed came the crippled and the beggar and the beaten.  And seeing them... he cried, "Great God, how is it that a loving creator can see such things and yet do nothing about them?"  God said, "I did do something.  I made you."  

-Author Unknown

Apply this to our self-image: The empowerment for minorities or fringe groups or people who don't feel cool by saying, "sure I'm a freak, and I like it!" has always annoyed me, but I only figured out why after dwelling on this quote for forever and a day. If your mission is to live in the world like you want the world to be, then why would you parade what a freak or weirdo you are? Don't you want to live in a world where it doesn't matter what your orientation is or people think it's normal that you speak Elvish or what colour your skin is? Then live like it. Live like it doesn't matter that you gained 60 pounds in college. Live like it doesn't matter who you love. Like no one will even bat an eye because you are NORMAL. And for pete's sake STOP all the whining because we all feel like outsiders sometimes. 

AND sometimes people are celebrating things they shouldn't even be proud of. One of my favourite songs used to be "Imperfection" by Saving Jane (who are so awesome seriously check them out). And a lot of the song is about celebrating her little imperfections like "my hair's a wreck, my mascara runs" but also "got good intentions but I never follow through". But uh... that's not a good thing. So... don't. Follow through. Keep growing and improving yourself. The point of "be the change you want to see in the world" is to keep making the world and yourself better and better. Or trying, anyway, because we all know it's an impossible task. 

Now the real adventure starts
A challenge that will truly test the best that's in your heart

Find the courage within

And then begin

To make the world right again,

To make the world right.

-"To Make The World Right Again" from the musical Narnia.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

-Matthew 5:16, NIV

And then the broader application is, as Christians the attitude is so often "lets show the world how different we are from it, cuz we're rebels, yo!" and god forbid, if we aren't qualifying every statement with "and I know you all will hate me and mock me for saying this, and I will stand back and laugh at you because of it" then lord knows we're not doing our job as a diversive religion. 

What if instead we lived with the expectation that the world is like us? And showed mercy and forgiveness and respect to our enemies because... well, that's what you do.  And showed loyalty and trust to our friends and loved ones because... well, that's what you do. And lived Christlike lives, not to be different or counter-cultural, but because that's what you freaking do. 

Let your light so shine indeed (Matt 5.16), but no one said you have shine it in people's eyes. They'll see it without you being obnoxious about it, believe me, and won't your witness be that much stronger if you don't tick them off first? 

I feel like my life is cleaning up the wounds left by other Christians, that not every Christian feels the need to go up to nonChristians and say, "you're going to hell, btw, cuz God like totally hates you;" not every Christian prefaces their opinion with, "and anyone who disagrees with me is a babykilling satan worshipper!", and not every Christian will reject you when you don't want to listen to them evangelise you for the FIFTEENTH TIME. 

This doesn't mean you don't ever share your faith. I do not have a single friend who doesn't know where I stand. But once you know what I believe and why, why should I repeat it every time I see you? Much better to let an unbelieving person see that Christianity is the way to go by by my actions, how I practice what I preach. Or try to, anyway. And I'm blessed to have a bunch of friends who disagree with me on EVERYTHING, because I'm able to do this and not annoy them so much that they drop me. 

Yes, we are as Christians not of this world. What world are we? Silly rabbit. The kingdom of heaven... which would be the change you want to see in the world, right? So live as if the kingdom of heaven were here on earth. If you lived in the kingdom of heaven... would you mock the people who disagree with you? 

That's what I get from "be the change you want to be in the world." 

PS: I have so much more to say on this topic. Check back for new and improved versions.