I'm overwhelmed with things I need to be concerned about. One day it's the environment. The next it's a natural disaster. The next, poverty. The next, red Starbucks cups. There's so many things I need to have an opinion on; need to be doing something about. If I only post about Paris and not also Beirut and Lebanon, I am ignorant. I only care about western countries. I instead must be concerned about everything. I must make sure everyone else is also concerned.
I need to be part of fixing the world, but I can't just pick one need to focus on. I cannot spend my life focusing on helping those in poverty. I need to help those in poverty AND stop global warming AND write letters to congress AND protect my rights.
I cannot fix the world. You cannot fix the world. Facebook cannot fix the world. Indignation cannot fix the world. It's not going to happen. No matter how thin we spread ourselves trying to make everything better, it's never going to save the whole world. And in the meantime, we exhaust ourselves trying to be the saviors of the world. You wanna know why it's not working?
Because we already have a savior of the world.
Jesus saved the world, remember? Have we forgotten that?
"Take heart! I have overcome the world." Those are Jesus' words. I do not have to fix the world because that's not my job and I physically can't because I am human.
Being compassionate is important. Whoever does not love their brother cannot love God. But there's nothing wrong with you if you have a hard time being concerned about certain issues. We have our strengths, and we will be most effective if we focus our efforts on what we are able to aid competently and knowledgeably.
Don't get overwhelmed. Know that it's okay to focus your efforts on one need. And when the world seems hopeless, know that we have a savior who has overcome the world and, thank heavens, he's not subject to our human weaknesses.
Lisa
