It Starts With Love

This weekend I came to the realization that in order to affect change, it has to start with love. Our desire to affect change needs to be greater than the alternative. If we are content with our own circumstances in life, and meeting our own needs, change cannot happen outside of ourselves. I continue to learn that love is a very complex word that is more than just something to say. I am learning in order to affect change we need to really love others. If we truly love others, our choices and actions will reflect it.

Humanity has been commanded to love our neighbours as ourselves. The statement "love your neighbour as yourselves" is mentioned 6 times, in both the Old and New Testament in the Bible. It's not just an old tradition or old wives tale. I do think though, anyone - regardless of their particular beliefs - can acknowedge that we all desire to be loved, and can understand the truth in that statement. The question then is who is your neighbour? I was reminded this weekend that our neighbours are any of the approximately 6.68 Billion people that call the planet Earth their home.

How we show love may differ person to person. A great place to start is with something you are passionate about. How can you use your passions to help someone in your community, in your city, in our country, somewhere in another part of the globe? I encourage you to take time to think about that. Perhaps you are a gifted writer, artist, musician, dancer - you could help tutor or mentor someone, teach a class to those who would maybe not otherwise have the opportunity. Perhaps you enjoy doing things for people - visit nursing homes to spend time with people who may not have family to come visit, run errands or other tasks for people who are shut in their homes, play basketball with disadvantaged youth, do a sandwhich run for the homeless, the opportunities are endless.

Please remember that the people who are poor and oppressed in this world, are people. They have needs, and feelings. I have been reminded that sometimes it is easier to be ignorant. In the process we can often leave people feeling unlovable or worthless. This is where love comes in. Take some time to show some love to someone you would otherwise pass by. Take some time to help someone outside your normal sphere of influence. I am going to.

If we all made effort to love through our choices and actions, I wonder what an impact that could make around the globe?