July 15, 2008
We all enjoy critiquing life, don’t we? Truth be known, it might be the number one time consuming occupation of us all. Though we never receive a paycheck for it, we enjoy giving our assessment and commentary on every matter under the sun. Seldom does a conversation take place without someone expressing their opinion on such topics as politics, healthcare, weather, economy, business, sports, neighbors, family members, environment, pets, fashion, restaurant menus, or education. The list is endless on the various topics that we all critique, but we seldom do little about improving the conditions or situations we discuss.
A few years ago I heard a phrase that sometimes lingers in my head. “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” The speaker was talking about moving from simply talking about the various issues of our lives to doing something about them.
This morning while sitting in the Vacation Bible School opening session, I listened to a story of a little 6 year old girl who knew little in the way of expressing commentary; instead she knew that actions speak more loudly than words. I would like to share with you a portion of her story.
“In April 2006, Katherine Commale learned about the desperate need for beds in Africa. Her mother had seen a television show explaining that every thirty seconds a child dies from malaria. Malaria is a disease people get from being bitten by mosquitoes. By sleeping under bed nets, children can be protected from mosquitoes.”
Through her desire to make a change in the world, Katherine started to purchase bed netting for African children. She started with ideas and a belief that her meager contribution could change the life of a child. Soon she promoted the idea in her church, Hopewell United Methodist Church in Downington, PA. As more people began to see her passion and desire to help others, it became contagious and people started donating money to the cause.
By the end of that year Katherine raised over $10,000 for bed netting. But the story does not stop there, members of the National Basketball Association learned of her story and with their marketing expertise helped her to start a national campaign called “Nothing But Nets.” With the help of local, regional and even national attention this campaign has the potential to save hundreds of thousands of little boys and girls every year with a simple bed net.
For Katherine, she helps me to realize how important it is to “be the change you want to see in the world.” Instead of simply talking about an issue, giving additional commentary and useless lip service that contributes nothing in the way of solving problems, she put her idea into practice and is now changing the world.
I say all this thinking about the 60 plus children participating in our VBS program!!! That’s right over sixty boys and girls came to the church to learn about how Christ can make a difference in their lives. With a little bit of nurture, care, intentional teaching and leading, these children can and will be changing the world.
I implore you, help us to raise these children as change agents and not mere commentators. Remember Proverbs 22:6 from Sunday, it does not happen without a good dose of James 2:26.
I’ll see in you in the “changing” place on Sunday,
Travis
