How would my community look different today if my mindset shifted from Me to We?
As I prepare for The World Race, God has begun to open my eyes and reveal the extent of my own selfishness and the dangerous culture I believe our country is falling into. A culture of ME. You see, we promote self-achievement and fame. We encourage becoming the best at what we do, and we applaud each other for the number of followers or fans that we have. Which in and of itself is not wrong, however many times the world comes to define who we are by those accomplishments and that is where the danger lies. When we live by the praise of people, we’ll die from the lack of it and I believe that we are beginning to see the consequences of that spread throughout our country. I believe God has called us to something far greater than our own achievements. However, when our vision isn’t larger than ourselves and set on personal gain we often lose sight of His calling.
Over the past couple years, I’ve allowed the world to define who I am and where my focus should be. I Became fixated on making more money, gaining social status and working out believing that those things would bring me happiness. That they would fill the hole that I had inside. However, through that process I began to alienate and neglect the relationships with my family, friends, coworkers and people in general. In the end I was still left with a longing for something more and often a feeling of depression and disappointment in myself because I wasn’t reaching the achievements that the world had set for me. I had lost sight of what was truly important, a charge that God gave us all. A calling to love people.
You see, the world says I’m a middle-class American who works a 9-5 job and is a subpar volleyball player who will never do or amount to anything. What they don’t understand is, I’m in the people’s business. I’m not a manager, I’m a servant. And anytime I have direct contact with people on a daily basis, that is an opportunity to change someone’s life. We should never pass up an opportunity to empower someone. We should never pass up an opportunity to encourage someone, and we should never pass up an opportunity to show someone love. Because our world if full of hurting people but not all pain is visible. Not all wounds can be seen. We may not see the underling depression of a boy who is contemplating suicide. We may not see the cuts on a girl’s arms as she tries to remove the pain of being told she is ugly. The struggles within a couple’s marriage that is on the edge of divorce may not be visible and that is exactly where the enemy wants it. Hidden inside where the pain continues to grow. In my selfishness I’ve allowed the opportunities to support others pass by. Whether it be paying for someone in the drive thru or just holding a door open, the ripple effects of a simple act of love cannot be measured nor overlooked.
While the world sees us as the culmination of our worldly achievements or the lack there of, God has created us for so much more and I believe He has given us the cure for the sickness and pain that is spreading across our country. When we come to understand that our existence isn’t just about us and as we move from ME to WE and understand the lasting impact we can have on others through just one encounter, we can change the world.
God calls us to love each other and the Apostle Paul charges us to always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is within us. This is something that God has begun to really work on in my heart. I’m praying that He would continue to tear away my selfish nature so that I may be His servant not only on the race but within my community as well.
So, I’ll ask you, how would our communities, cities, and nation change if our minds changed from Me to We?
Be intentional in your relationships!
