fixable obstacles.

I took a personality test a few months ago, and realized I have a horrible personality.
It was great for my self-esteem.

For those of you that don’t know…I can be harsh and critical. I am rather loud, rather bossy, and can be accidentally abrasive. I am not overly emotional. I am a fixer, goal oriented, organized…none of this sounds very nice, does it?

This personality test explains why I spend lots of time trying to think of ways to fix problems in my head. It is a strange hobby, but I enjoy it. After I think of a way to fix something, I have no problem calling people to boss them into doing whatever it is I think they should do to fix the problem I feel I have solved…
Maybe I should add arrogant to my personality list.

I get my personality from my father.
It is true.
Right, George?

I like getting perspective.
I like things ordered in my brain.

In my mind I daily wish for the fixing of things I don’t know how to fix. I don’t even know how to begin. I am generally a fluffy writer. I like for people to see the lighter side of living with at least six kids…because most days it is hilarious. Like right now, one of my kids is sitting at the table doing math homework with pieces of popcorn on his head. That IS funny.

But I am not always fluffy and real life is certainly not always fluffy.
Sometimes I get overwhelmed.
I get overwhelmed by the statistics of what seem to be insurmountable, un-fixable obstacles.
Sad and overwhelmed.

• The number of children waiting to be adopted in our country…110,000.
• Number of children orphaned by AIDS in Africa…1,900,000. (UNICEF)
• Number of people in forced labor due to human trafficking…2.5 million. (UN.GIFT)
• 2.5 million children die each year due to malnutrition. (U.N. food and agriculture.org)
• The World Health Organization estimates that 1/3 of the world is well-fed, 1/3 is under-fed, and 1/3 are STARVING.
• 780 million people lack access to clean water. (water.org)
• Number of worldwide orphans is said to be between 153 million and 210 million.

Population of earth: 7 billion
Population of Christians: 2 billion
So, I move beyond overwhelmed to…confused.
Why the apathy?

Definition of APATHY

Apathy.
I don’t get it.

Statistics…in my opinion.
The statistics indicate a pervasive lack of appropriate horror. Horror over human trafficking, people without families, hunger, AIDS. People dying from water-born pathogens.
It IS horrifying.

Christians.
There are about 2 billion people that claim Christianity.
Which makes us the largest “religious” population on the planet.
Shouldn’t that make us socially and politically relevant?

I hear so often “change takes time”…of course it does. When only a small fraction of people are verbally and visibly grieved by injustice, it takes a long time. I propose that if 2 billion people ACTED on behalf of suffering people, that change would take place in short order.

What matters.
When do we, as Christians, as people on this planet start bellowing about things that MATTER?
These people…the people in the statistics, they matter.
People matter.

The Truth.
I have been working on this blog for weeks.
I really wasn’t sure where to go with it.
I wasn’t sure I ever wanted anyone to read it.
I think it is because I am guilty not doing enough.
Of not being effective enough to alter injustices around me.
I feel very small…I assume it is because I am.
I am roughly 1 of 7,000,000,000 people.
A mere speck of humanity.
But even being a speck is no excuse for apathy.

Tonight at church our pastor (that would be you, Randy) spoke about conviction leading to courage. What a beautiful thought. I love sermons that make me think…

I need courage.
Maybe you do too.
Courage to not give in.
Or give up.
Courage to change one life.
Or more.
Courage to say yes to obedience.
Courage to change the world…
One un-fixable, insurmountable obstacle at a time.