Nomad Online

I’m not sure how I’m changing the world. It’s hard enough to change me.

Everyone wants to save the earth; nobody wants to help mom do the dishes.

P.J. O’Rourke, All the Trouble in the World

We’re headed to the end of bloganuary, and today the WordPress team is asking how we’re changing the world.

As I’ve grown older, the idea of changing the world has become daunting and somewhat exhausting. Besides, who am I to think that a world changed to my liking is going to be better than the one before it?

I no longer aim for it. I’ve started instead to look for small ways in which I can serve. Where I can use my time and energy to make positive changes within my control. The big wide world with its terrible and sad problems are not going to be transformed overnight by me.

I try to be a good mother and wife. Although, I feel there are more instances where my husband and son take care of me than the other way around these days.

I try to be faithful to the God I follow — trying to live a life in response to the Grace that’s been bestowed on me. A Bible verse springs to mind:

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Micah 6:8

The problem always is I fail dismally at times to do this.

I can’t stop the refugee crisis. But I can be a good friend to someone new to the community. I can make room in my heart to care for another and learn from each other. I can sign petitions, organise community events, give money to good causes.

I can’t pull children out of extreme poverty, but I can work hard to do my best to tell stories of people who have, in the hope it might inspire others to act.

I’m not sure I want to change the world to what I think is a better place. Nor am I sure I can. But I’ll start with the little things like putting my rubbish in the bin, doing the dishes, making sure my child is fed and does his homework.

Ultimately, I believe I’m not going to be the one who changes the world. I’ll praise God for that.

For bloganuary. How are you changing the world?