“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.” - MLK Jr.

MLK speaks the truth, but the part I forget is that peace must begin at a personal level.

I hear messages like this and ones like Shane Claiborne in Irresistible Revolution and I am not sure what to do with them. I am so motivated by them, I’m like a speaking-in-tongues dancin’-in-the-aisles Jesus freak (at least on the inside). But the problem with that super excited mentality, even if it is shown on the outside, is that it benefits no one. I can highlight a book until it glows in the dark, but it does me, or more importantly it does no one else, any good. I suppose, God, that it is the same thing I’ve said a hundred times, that I want to make a difference but I AM not.

-Stop and meditate break –

As I’ve been writing I realized at least a couple ways – Dave and Shari’s lawn (which I realize now that I never mowed!!!), our neighbor Veronika, my AVID student’s financial needs, my EAP students cards of encouragement.

So my thoughts are now that I don’t know whether the problem is that I am thinking too large scale (about military programs and global poverty) or that I really have no idea how to live these things out. Unfortunately, because now I have just though of tangible things to do to make a difference and can’t feign confusion, because that only thing holding me back is my laziness (specifically in the form of watching Oscar nominated movies – which often movies like Blood Diamond, Babel, or Last King of Scotland make me motivated but rarely create action to live out loving others) I believe it is the former. So, God, in your infinite wisdom and love let me do things in my life that will make others’ lives better whether it is a simple day-to-day kind of love or life altering kind.

Thank you for today,
Help me to love today.