Why do I do the things I do? Why do I hold onto the “high road” and look for “peace”?
Why do I discipline myself, correct myself, and look out for others? Why do I care when so little seemingly do not?
Why do I give so much, invest so much time, repeat myself, and give grace all around to receive “nothing” in return?
Why am I loyal, when most are not? Why do I commit when others will not? Why do I stay quiet when others won’t?
Why do things about life on earth and humanity bother me, but are the jokes of others? When will I learn, or when will they learn?
What effect do my “convictions” really have? How do I affect others when I screw up? Why is it hard for me to be satisfied?
Does it make any difference when I love instead of hate? Does it make any difference when I give grace when “grace isn’t deserved”?
Why are my values constantly conflicting? How do I prioritize the world, humanity, friends, family, and God?
Why do I so often shrink back to that middle-school kid who doesn’t have a voice? Why do people have to “confront” the little things and not the big things?
Why do people have to argue? Why can’t people just get along? When will we ever learn to have tolerance for each other?
When will we Christians ever learn to make allowances for each other’s faults? When will we Christians realize our God gave us this planet? Oh wait, when will we Christians be mature to first love, have grace, and tolerance in areas that are unimportant to salvation?
What’s the point, what’s the big idea? Who cares? Who knows? Does anyone care enough? Does anyone do enough? Does anyone live enough? Where’s our direction? Where’s our conviction? Where’s our love? Who will take action, just one small step at a time?
Who will lead? Shouldn’t we all? It’s true, none of us are disqualified, none of us are failures, we’re all just in this together – yet we do it alone. Alone we accomplish very little. Together, we make a difference. Weather we’re organized or not, simply doing, is better than sitting the game out. Love one another, talk to one another, set aside the differences and find the common items and play together.
Talk, learn, grow, be stretched, and most of all, humble yourself to your fellow humans, we all have something to share! Of course this has to be mutual, and that’s where my idealism usually falls apart, so few of us willing approach each other as equals. I find myself trapped there too, sometimes wanting to “win” a point – which isn’t the point at all… the point is to stretch, challenge, and maybe learn something from another’s viewpoint. Yes, there are certain truths in this world that can’t be “argued”, but they can be lived, and that is more powerful than anything.
I live this “idealistic” life not because I seek some amazing return on my investment, but because I know that in the end it matters more than anything to care for people, the planet, and the kingdom to come. Everything else is so trivial. Of course I like to have as much fun in the process as possible, as long as the goals remain, always… yeah I’m serious even when having fun.
And most of all, where does our help come from? It comes from the same source as those plants in the picture.