What Moves You?

There must be something here that moves you. That makes you want to get out of your own way, to stand up for what you know to be true, to be sometimes inconvenienced or made ceremoniously uncomfortable for a greater cause. Have we become so numb to the conditions of our humanity? Belittled by the darkness, blinded by the light? Noble are we to bring forth our best intentions, but the broken world we inhabit commands more. Through cause and effect, we still collectively reap what we sow. Dare I ask what you’re growing in your garden?

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I write you from a rainy day in Seattle, where I have settled in with my laptop and a hot cup of coffee. The weather here is always changing. While we still have many bursts of sunshine or slightly overcast days, it is without a doubt that we are in the rainy season. In light of recent events happening around the world, I’ve been contemplating how easy social media has made it to share our opinions online. It’s almost all too effortless to say you support something in one way or another. With the click of a mouse your friends, family and beyond know instantly where you stand. Except, that’s not enough.

In 2009, artist John Mayer released the song “Belief,” stating perfectly in his lyrics “Everyone believes in how they think it ought to be,” but “we’re never going to win this if belief is what we’re fighting for.”

What actions are you taking? If you truly believe all lives matter or have empathy for what others are experiencing across the globe, how far are you willing to go to stand behind them, and to lend a hand where it is needed? Whether things are happening in your own backyard or thousands of miles away, how will you show up? Because it’s so much more than whether or not we agree or disagree with something. These are human lives and for many this very real.

My challenge to you, dear reader, is to not focus on how many minds you want to change with your view on our current state of affairs. My challenge is for you to be one of the helpers mentioned in this quote by Mr. Rogers, who said “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

[Tweet “After all, your beliefs don’t make you a better person, your behavior does.”]

As Iian Thomas, author of the bestselling book I Wrote This For You, once said, “And every day, the world will drag you by the hand, yelling “This is important! And this is important! And this is important! You need to worry about this! And this! And this!” And each day, it’s up to you to yank your hand back, put it on your heart and say “No. This is what’s important.”

This isn’t a head game, friends. It’s a heart game.

Donate to organizations that are directly helping the Syrian refugee crisis, and continue to stay involved in the local causes that are important to you. Recognize the role you play in what’s happening today as well as what tomorrow will bring.