GILLIAN LEE-FONG

The big issues in the world today, the things we feel are beyond our control, out of our reach– hunger, poverty, war, the destruction of the environment – all started with the actions of one individual, one selfish act, one greedy desire, one jealous thought, one hateful word, one spiteful lie.

​

We hear every day on the news the horrors of what is going on in the world.  We know about the genocide in Darfur, about the sex trafficking of children.  We see the unfair treatment of workers, immigrants, the under-resourced.  We hear the lies of the politicians, the biases of the everyday man. We walk past homeless people on the street and get so tired and annoyed by the constant begging, begging, begging.  We wind up our window at the off ramp and turn our eyes away from the sign that says, “Will work for food,” because you know your hard-earned dollar would be shot up in his veins within the hour.  In our intimate circles we see racism, abuse, exploitation.  In our hearts we experience greed, hate, unforgiveness.  And we say, “it’s not my problem” or “I’m only one man.” 

​

Well, today I charge you to look into the mirror, acknowledge your sins, and say, “This day I will save the world.”  Let’s put our hands, hearts, and minds together and save this darn world.  Take your hands from your ears for a minute.  Listen to her groans.

​

Maybe, if we take one small step, it will have the ripple effect.  You know the one:  The butterfly that flaps it's wings somewhere out in the Amazon and lifts the kite of a little boy in China.  The pebble tossed in the Ganges whose ripple washes ashore a California coast and cool your toes.  Start where you can; go where you dream.

​

​

MAKE A DIFFERENCE...

 

...In your heart:

Read Psalms

Read a poem

Sit quietly at the top of a mountain, or by the ocean, or in the woods and enjoy the awesomeness of God

Forgive someone

Forgive yourself. Write down your sins, toss them in the ocean, or set them afire and sin no more.

Pray

 

...In your circle:

Refuse to participate in hateful rhetoric

Stand up for someone

Tell someone you love them

Smile

 

...In your neighborhood:

Volunteer at a
refugee agency

Take care packages to a  woman's shelter

Take the homeless guy a bagel and a cup of tea

Mow the lawn for an
elderly couple

Start a neighborhood watch

​

​

...in your society:

Be compassionate to others

Take care of the environment

 

...in the world:

Provide loans to Kiva

Take a stand for immigrants and refugees.

What can you add to this list?