Being the Change
June 16th 2007 13:08
Now, at times in our life we have to change and grow. To set ourselves free from our previous mindset in order to embrace the change before us. At times, these changes come along against our will and there is nothing for it but to simply do as best as one can. I for example, have embraced the change that is the new Internet Explorer. I did not do this willingly, my dad upgraded it for me. It may not be the best point, but it is the one that sticks up in my mind right now.
It was actually Mahatma Ghandi that said that we should "Be the change that you want to see in the world." Wise words, and very true. Too often we complain and complain, but don't actually do anything in order to change what we complain about. Two terrible things happen when this happens. For the first, nothing actually changes the situation. Except for the fact that the world around you has got some terrible noise pollution, but nothing truly remarkable. The second things that is terrible is that quite often, the person that complains about what they hate, often starts to become very much like it. As Nietsche said "Those who fight monsters should take care that they never become one. For when you stand and look long into the abyss, the abyss also looks into you."
A good friend of mine, Richard Melheim (go check him out, he's written some great books) was once asked for advice from a middle aged lady that had her son and his newly wed wife living at her house. She said to him "what if I want to walk around in my underwear?" His answer "walk around in your underwear." She did. Result, son and woman leaving house very, very quickly.
In my case, so much of what I have had to change about myself has been to do with my attitude, my thinking and my relating to people. I see people that I don't like, that do things that annoy me, things that I think are lacking in intelligence. And yeah, I could complain about them, make fun of them (I still make fun of them, but I make fun of everyone. It's very democratic) and become like what I dislike. Small minded, petty, and unthinking. But that isn't going to help anyone, especially the people that I can help (please note, I am not saying I am perfect, I am a long, long way from it, but I do know that there are things I can do, someone I can be that can be a blessing to people) and making myself worse when I am already good enough at being bad is a waste of who God intends me to be.
Alot of the time, a little proactive philosophy goes a long way. We may not change the world by seeing a wrong and doing what we can to right it, but we may just change a few lives. For the better.
JZ
P.S. please note, I managed to quote three different people, one of whom is a christian and I DIDN'T quote Chesterton at all.
It was actually Mahatma Ghandi that said that we should "Be the change that you want to see in the world." Wise words, and very true. Too often we complain and complain, but don't actually do anything in order to change what we complain about. Two terrible things happen when this happens. For the first, nothing actually changes the situation. Except for the fact that the world around you has got some terrible noise pollution, but nothing truly remarkable. The second things that is terrible is that quite often, the person that complains about what they hate, often starts to become very much like it. As Nietsche said "Those who fight monsters should take care that they never become one. For when you stand and look long into the abyss, the abyss also looks into you."
A good friend of mine, Richard Melheim (go check him out, he's written some great books) was once asked for advice from a middle aged lady that had her son and his newly wed wife living at her house. She said to him "what if I want to walk around in my underwear?" His answer "walk around in your underwear." She did. Result, son and woman leaving house very, very quickly.
In my case, so much of what I have had to change about myself has been to do with my attitude, my thinking and my relating to people. I see people that I don't like, that do things that annoy me, things that I think are lacking in intelligence. And yeah, I could complain about them, make fun of them (I still make fun of them, but I make fun of everyone. It's very democratic) and become like what I dislike. Small minded, petty, and unthinking. But that isn't going to help anyone, especially the people that I can help (please note, I am not saying I am perfect, I am a long, long way from it, but I do know that there are things I can do, someone I can be that can be a blessing to people) and making myself worse when I am already good enough at being bad is a waste of who God intends me to be.
Alot of the time, a little proactive philosophy goes a long way. We may not change the world by seeing a wrong and doing what we can to right it, but we may just change a few lives. For the better.
JZ
P.S. please note, I managed to quote three different people, one of whom is a christian and I DIDN'T quote Chesterton at all.
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Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
Oh goodness.
..I thought I saw Elvis yesterday.....
...hee hee....
Hope you're well buddy.
That's how politicians get into power.
much warmth
Dusk
Comment by Sharky
A while ago I dropped some cuss words by mistake. For what reason I don't remember only that I did it.
What happened next? People, who swear on an hourly basis come to me and tell me that I'm a hypocrite.
Can you imagine what piccasso art I could have made out of their faces with my bare hands?
Comment by JoshZ
A Simple Christian
Yeah, I know. Confused alot of people by not quoting my favourite philosopher. Though to make up for it, I did quote someone whose philosophy he despised.
TO make it up to you, I promise that the next post I write will have LOTS of Chesterton in it.
Always good to see a good friend.
JZ
Comment by JoshZ
A Simple Christian
yeah, I've had people tell me off for things like that.
Sometimes dude, you just need to remember what the Bible says and how to apply it. Vengeance is mine, thus saith the Lord. Remember dude, YOU are His representative.
heh heh heh,
JZ