Recently I read:

Do not be daunted by the enormity
of the world’s grief.  
Do justly — now.  
Love mercy — now. 
You are not obligated to complete the work, 
but neither are you free to abandon it. 
— authorship unknown

Since July 1st, I made a commitment to turn off the news and shelter myself from the news, especially from anything violent or that could impact me.  This was a very conscious decision, because at the same time I have been working on spending sometimes an hour — sometimes more – each day in silence.  Opening my heart and my mind to listen to the still, small voice.

These 30-plus days have been a wonderful time of growth for me. But they have also made me more vulnerable and feeling.  I have a much greater empathy for my fellow man. But I am so much more hurt by what I see in the world around me.  My heart breaks so much more easily now!

When I read the above quote, I felt a sense of relief: I don’t have to do it all!  I only have to do my part.

Each one of us is called to a purpose.

We were given different talents and abilities.

Some of us get caught up in using those talents and abilities simply for our selfish ends.  But I am finding more and more people that are on fire to make a difference in this world.  They care about what is happening and they are motivated to do something about it.

Yes, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of grief in this world.

For example, when I look at the piles of plastic and man-made waste in this world and how badly we have polluted our oceans and rivers through our consumerism and lack of consciousness regarding single-use items, I feel overwhelmed.

When I see wars and political conflicts — situations like Venezuela or Nicaragua — my heart hurts and I feel helpless.

How can we possibly solve these problems?  They are so big!

Then I realise, I am not called to be the one that solves ALL those problems.

But I am called to be active in my community.

Most importantly, the way that I treat each person that I come into contact with and what I allows to happen in my community — that will make the biggest different.  I am not responsible for the world – but I am called to make a difference where I am:

If each and every one of us took these seriously, just where we are.

• If each of us treated the 100 people we have the most contact with – with love, with kindness, with justice, with generosity –How would the world change?
• If I treated the environment, right where I live, with attention and nurture and care  — how would the earth be better?
• If I could simply live in harmony with the people that I come into contact with each day — what difference would that make?

What solutions do you see when you look out at the world today?

How can we make this a better place to be?

How does the light of God shine through you into the world and that love shine through into others?  Can others see Christ in you?