Before you start reading, I'm just going to say that I feel really, really strongly on this subject and I've been working on this for ages so this is probably going to be kind of long.
(And there's so much more I could say!)
(And there's so much more I could say!)
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In some of my spare time I like to take quizzes like 'which character are you in this movie?' I recently took a quiz on the Zimbio quiz website called, 'Which Dr. Seuss character are you?' and I came out as The Lorax. Now, at the end of the quiz when you find out who you are, they also give a description, so to speak, of the character. The description of The Lorax said, "You're a champion...with the grit and courage to stand up for your principles. You speak for those who cannot speak for themselves and fight for change because you know that caring a whole awful lot is the only way to improve your world."Sometimes we think that other people will do it or that we can't do anything. Both are completely normal things to think but we can't let those thoughts get in the way. Why not? Because anyone can make a difference.
I went to a conference a while ago and I got the opportunity to listen to a very inspirational and motivational speaker named Merrilee Boyack. First of all, before I continue, I'd just like to say that she is truly and awesomely-amazingly AWESOME. She gave a talk on standing up in a sit-down world. And how cool is that? I mean, aren't we pulled down by the "just-sit-down-and-do-nothing" gravity of the world? Don't we fear that we'll stand up and be shunned? When we stand up we could be shunned but that shouldn't stop us. In fact, try to take pride in being different. What if everyone was the same? That would be 1) super weird and 2) super creepy.
Some of the things Merrilee Boyack said was that we need to be the one. The one who goes and does, not the one who sits and doesn't. There's always something we can do. One of the simple things that Merrilee Boyack said we could do today was, every month give $1 to Humanitarian Aid. (The $1 dollar will probably help people in Africa, because, believe it or not, 1/4 to 1/3 of the people in Africa are dying or dead due to Aids.)
She also quoted Helen Keller who said, "Fight apathy or don't." So, what is apathy? According to Google search apathy is:
noun: apathy
- lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern."widespread apathy among students"
Origin
early 17th century: from French apathie, via Latin from Greek apatheia, from apathēs ‘without feeling,’ from a- ‘without’ + pathos ‘suffering.’
In the book The Alchemyt by Michael Scott, Hekate says that "Great change always comes down tot he actions of a single person."
I've probably already mentioned this story before but, Jamison Shoemaker, an Indiana farmer, was the reason Texas became a state. (Don't believe me, look him up; it's fascinating!!)
One thing we need to do to be able to change the world is to "open our eyes to see" as Merrilee Boyack said. We need to notice things and then act. Example: somebody at church told this story in a talk they gave. A family from Japan, I think it was, moved into a neighborhood. We'll say this families name is Green. So, the Green's start receiving casseroles which they accept gratefully. But, if one was to look harder you'd see that what they really needed was help unpacking and friends to talk to and hang out with. The casseroles were nice, yes but the Green's would have been even more happy to have some friends.
That's one way to change the world, look and act. Another way is to lead. Leading is not bossing or pushing; leading is encouraging, stepping up to the plate, taking action and being an example.
In their book Edge, Chris Brady and Orrin Woodward wrote:
"Someone should do something! That's a cry (or sometimes just a thought) that occurs millions of times a day, all around the world. Everywhere, in a ll times, and at all places, there will always be situations in which people will wish for someone to step forward and "do something." In every case where someone actually does step forward and do something, that person is demonstrating leadership. Leadership is one of those topics that seem extremely simple on the surface. ...But in reality, when it comes to real life situations, leadership is anything but easy. This is why most people stand around wishing for "someone" to do something. Only the rarest type of individual actually steps forward and does it. ...A leader is anyone who assumes responsibility to take action against a situation that needs changing. ...Take a step forward. Volunteer. Influence others. Do something. ...The first step to leading others is to lead yourself."1
(That's only part of what Mr. Brady and Mr. Woodward wrote; I wish I could type up the rest but that'd be pretty long and besides this paper is taking up a lot of room.)
In his 1996 address at BYU, Gordon B. Hinkley told the the students there to stand up for truth. He said:
"In this world so filled with problems, so constantly threatened by dark and evil challenges, you can and must rise above mediocrity, above indifference. You can become involved and speak with a strong voice for that which is right.I know that was long, but it was amazing. I love how he says that "YOU can be a leader. You MUST be a leader." That, to me, means that I have a job, a responsibility to lead others. You have that job to, the question is, will you accept it?
"You can reach out to prevent a foolhardy decision on the part of a boy or girl. Your interest, your caring attitude, and your voice may make the difference between life and death in a very literal sense.
Stand up for integrity in your business, in your profession, in your home, in the society of which you are a part.
"Again, it is not enough that you retreat to your private cloister and pursue only your special private interests. Your strong voice is needed. The weight of your stance may be enough to tip the scales in the direction of truth.
"Stand up for integrity in the home.
"You can be a leader. You must be a leader. Do not let fear overcome your efforts, for as Paul wrote to Timothy: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). The adversary of all truth would put into your heart a reluctance to make an effort. Cast that fear aside and be valiant in the cause of truth and righteousness and faith. If you now decide that this will become the pattern of your life, you will not have to make that decision again. You will put on “the armour of God” and raise your voice in defense of truth whatever the circumstances now and in all the years that lie ahead (see Ephesians 6:11)."2
Wesley Prankard lives on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls and he's made a difference by raising money to build playgrounds for kids who live in third world conditions. At first nobody thought a kid could make a difference but Wesley Prankard did it; he raised money and he built that playground. And, as far as I know, he hasn't stopped.
One another thing Merrilee Boyack mentioned was the song Sit down, you're rockin' the boat from Guys and Dolls. In the song Nicely Nicely Johnson (great name, right?) is at a revival meeting. He's asked to give testimony and he makes up a dream where he is persuadided to repent of his wicked ways. The song is talks about, obviously, siting down and not rocking the boat. It's also super catchy and fun.
(Another song that talks about not standing up is Stick to the Status Quo from High School Musical.)
I'd just like to clarify something really quick; you don't have to build a playground or be someone famous to make a difference. I know I say that a lot but it's true. Have you ever donated money to a charity or organization? If you have, then you helped to change the world. If you haven't I encourage you to do so. Find a charity or organization you like or really want to support and do something for them; raise money, tell others so they know too. Every little bit helps.
Another super simple thing you can do is smile. That's right, just smile. Smiles can make miles of difference. How? I was at a homeschool youth conference a few years ago and a guy named Thomas Blackwell told us the experience his wife had once in college. She was walking to a class and she noticed another student walking in her direction, head down and clearly showing that he wasn't going to smile or nod at her as she went by. She then had an impression to smile and say hi to this stranger. To do this she actually had to bend down to see the guy's face. So, she bent down, said hi, then went on her way. A couple days later she was called in to see a professor. This professor said that a student had come in, describe her and asked who she was. The professor went on to explain that this guy had been down in the dumps that day and had been contemplating suicide. When she took the time to say hi, he'd thought that if a stranger was willing to say hi with a smile, then there was a reason to live.
How amazing is that? "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass."3 It's like the butterfly effect. They say when a butterfly flaps it's wings on one side of the globe, the wind can eventually create a hurricane on the other side, or something like that. The point: little things make up the big things.
And anyone can do little things.
--------- 1 Edge by Chris Brady and Orrin Woodward, pg 130, 131
2 "Stand Up for Truth" Gordon B. Hinkley - http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=738
3 Alma 37:6
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