Christians are supposed not merely to endure change, nor even to profit by it, but to cause it. Harry Emerson Fosdick
What struck me about this quote is that I deeply resonate with the "Be the change you wish to see in the world" quote. Fosdick adds a layer onto this idea and reminds Christians are to actually cause change.
And as I look at my life I really wonder, each and every day, what change have I caused? Sure I might be able to say I have helped people to see alternate ways of being or thinking about Christianity, Jesus or God. But that is about the extent of what I feel I have caused.
There are several things I wish to cause to change in my immediate setting: shifting youth ministry from a single personality driven ministry to a contemplative ministry and developing a collation for young adult clergy to give not only suggestions on ways out of some of the problems we face but also committing us to doing something about them.
Both of these are big things for me. There are tons of administrative and background work. It will take a long time and will be a lot of work for me in the beginning. But in the end each of these will yield a greater good.
My problem with causing change is the change that I dream about is too big for me to dent. If only I was motivated to change the wall color in my house, I might be able to actually cause that change. These other dreams, I need help.
How do you get help for a dream?
What struck me about this quote is that I deeply resonate with the "Be the change you wish to see in the world" quote. Fosdick adds a layer onto this idea and reminds Christians are to actually cause change.
And as I look at my life I really wonder, each and every day, what change have I caused? Sure I might be able to say I have helped people to see alternate ways of being or thinking about Christianity, Jesus or God. But that is about the extent of what I feel I have caused.
There are several things I wish to cause to change in my immediate setting: shifting youth ministry from a single personality driven ministry to a contemplative ministry and developing a collation for young adult clergy to give not only suggestions on ways out of some of the problems we face but also committing us to doing something about them.
Both of these are big things for me. There are tons of administrative and background work. It will take a long time and will be a lot of work for me in the beginning. But in the end each of these will yield a greater good.
My problem with causing change is the change that I dream about is too big for me to dent. If only I was motivated to change the wall color in my house, I might be able to actually cause that change. These other dreams, I need help.
How do you get help for a dream?