how to change the world 101

a delicate balance of hope and absurdity are the only ideological requirements for truly changing the world. for when these two fuel the fires of action taken by the individual, change cannot be stopped. yet, if this is the case then why does the world remain such a mess? most believe that it's far too great a problem for the individual to solve on their own, and this is where they are not only wrong, but inspire continued apathy.

initiatives, programmes, movements, organisations, these are noble things and it is good to unite, but all that is needed to shake the earth is the individual, passionately afire with justice at the forefront of their heart and mind. this is not to say that these groups and organisations are worthless or irrelevant, on the contrary they are often made up of united individuals who are absurdly hopeful in their resolution to change the way things are. what i am arguing here is that these institutions are not necessary and sometimes their existence causes the individual 'outside' to give up or remain in complacency. so often the frustration seems to be that since one is not a part of a programme or movement that they cannot do what it is that movement proclaims in action, yet this is not the case.

the truth is that history is marked by individual men and women who stood alone, and boldly so, in opposition to the problems and issues they faced. that others soon rallied around them comes after the fact. some recent members of this historical activist hall of fame include the likes of martin luther king, jr., mother theresa and gandhi. they became figureheads of the movements they inspired not because they needed others for their programme to work, but because they, themselves, had a dream, or saw the need for action at a personal level.

ironically it is only after this individual proclamation of principles that others joined in agreement. they found the speeches of dr. king inspiring but also, his words seemed to articulate what they had been feeling all along. the irony of individual importance is that the one who acts in defiance of the inevitable soon finds himself in similar company by those who witnessed his bravery.

in the gospels, jesus sets out on his own and then calls disciples to him, but each of those disciples were faced with a personal challenge. this was not a broad call for all to become a part of his group, but instead to set out with him on a journey that would first change them individually and then turn outward and set the world afire with hope.

in our own day, programmes and initiatives fast become trend and pop-culture groups of association. to see a t-shirt advertising this group is now all too common, and while there is nothing wrong with advertising a noble initiative, when the hype is centered around 'the who' of an organisation instead of 'the issue' a great distraction is created and as a result, apathy abounds. the same is true of religion in america and abroad.

social justice is not the saving of the earth, but rather the ideological fuel that burns a fire of perspective of charity (justice) in the heart and mind of each individual affected by it. there is no situation which exists where the opportunity to make the world a better or brighter place does not also exist. it is not a question of whether change is possible, but to what degree an individual wants to change the world versus the degree to which they are able.

there is no limitation on the potential for global shifts, yet the everyday man and woman are in a place where they may feel infinitely small in comparison to such a large world which rather huge issues and problems. this perspective is tiring and renders one the feeling of futility in doing anything at all. yet the opposite is true. the individual is infinitely large in comparison to the problems of the world, and since they can only change what they can, there is no limit to individual potential on a global scale.

a child who sells lemonade on the corner understands that she may not sell to the entire world, but to those that she can sell to on a hot summer day, she will have affected them and made their world a better place. the elderly man who may not travel to africa to distribute food to orphans and aid victims understands that he may donate money to buy food for the homeless and the orphans in his own neighbourhood. the pastor of a small church may not have a megaphone to shout his message of hope and love worldwide, but he can show love to those around him and exhibit the hope within. a school-teacher may not be able to donate a large sum of money to providing clean water worldwide, but in the teaching and care of those students in her classroom she can inspire such hope that sets those students afire with compassion and generosity.


the simple truth is this:

you cannot change the world, but you can change your world.


it is sad to think, not of what you cannot do, but of what you can do but do not. the opportunities for world-change exist all around you, if have eyes to see them. that is how to change the world.