Make a difference
Sometimes when I watch television or read the newspaper, I find myself becoming depressed: stories of war, oppression, tyranny, poverty and starvation; stories of problems in our own society. There are so many things that are wrong with the world and I feel that there is nothing I can do to change it. I’m certain that we all have similar feelings at times.
But in reality we all make an important difference however insignificant we may feel. We may be small but we are not insignificant. Every encounter we have causes change – sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. All the time we are being changed and are causing change. The way we vote in elections, the views we express and the small acts of kindness we do for others, all cause change and their effects grow. We all remember William Wilberforce because he successfully campaigned for the abolition of the slave trade but he did not start the campaign – his actions were the consequence of the actions of many other people over many years. William Wilberforce’s success was the culmination of the work of many people over many years.
Many things lead us into taking actions that improve the lives of others and encountering Christ is one of the most important for many people. In Christ, God entered the world he had created because of the value he had and has placed on us. Those who met Christ were changed by him. For two thousand years Christ has been changing people and turning people’s lives upside down. When we encounter Christ and let him enter our lives then it is the greatest change we can experience. The influence of Christ in our lives affects the way we treat others and so makes a difference to them. Because God has placed such value on us, our actions are always significant even if we do not recognise it at the time.
David Bradshaw, St Mark’s Church Leamington Spa
June 2007