We All Have a Voice

Hello, friends! Wow, it's my first blog of 2016. When I started this back in 2014 I never imagined I would have this much fun blogging. That shows what I know!

Anyway, I just finished watching the clip of Ellen DeGeneres winning the Humanitarian Award at the People's Choice Awards. She's a truly inspirational person - someone who firmly believes in one ideal (be kind to one another) and embodies it in every aspect of her life. Obviously, there are many points where I disagree with Ellen, but no one can deny that she is incredibly kind. She uses her talk show, her wealth, and her sense of humor to spread kindness around the world.

Sometimes I look at the problems in our world and wonder, what can I do? How can I help the homeless people in Enid or Syrian refugees overseas or bullied kids in our schools or people in abusive relationships? What can I do? I'm just one person. I don't have the influence that someone like Ellen does, and even she hasn't been able to solve these problems.

I don't think anyone reading this has quite as global of a voice as Ellen does. (If you do, please let me know, because apparently you're famous and I didn't know it.) But the fact is, we all have a voice. We all have a chance at influencing the people around us. If we as Christians truly embody our ideals of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control - if we make them a vital part of our identities and use what we have been given to spread them to those around us - then we can change the world. While I was in Florida, my mantra was "every person matters." This applies here. We can't change the world all in one fell swoop. But if we manage to influence one person, who influences one person, who influences one person, then the world will change gradually.

I'm a Director of Christian Education. My goal is to influence the people of Redeemer Lutheran Church with those ideals, the fruits of the Spirit. I almost wrote "I want to influence everyone I work with," but then I realized that even that is too big of a scope. I am one person. I can't do that. But I can influence the teenagers in my youth group. I can influence the leaders who work with me directly. I can influence the parents in my congregation. By narrowing my vision, my goals become clearer. I'm able to recognize my limitations and emphasize my strengths.

Let me give you an example. I was bullied as a kid in middle school, so bullied kids are a particular source of passion for me. I have one in my confirmation class. She's one of those awkward preteens who attracts a lot of teasing, just like I was. So as I was planning for my junior high youth group, I decided to focus on friendship this semester. I probably won't ever address the problem directly. This is something that I can't fix directly, just like my teachers couldn't. But I can influence it. I can point out the principles of friendship, the problem of excluding others, and biblical examples of good friends. Through this message, repeated over and over again throughout the semester, I'm hoping that I can show the bullies what they're doing wrong, and the bullied what she is truly worth to me and to God.

That's my example. What's yours? How are you influencing those around you?