How Do You Know....When You are Ready to Change the World?

A number of years ago, the news reported that two sisters, Sarah and Elizabeth Delany, were threatened that their government checks would be cut off unless they could prove they were still alive.

While both were over 100-years-old, they certainly were alive and they proved it in the best-selling book, "Having Our Say," written with Amy Hill Hearth. Born the daughters of the first elected black Episcopal bishop, the Delany sisters were distinguished graduates of Columbia University. Bessie was only the second black woman licensed to practice dentistry in New York. Sadie was the first black person ever to teach domestic science on the high school level in the New York City public schools. Both of these women, although they did not seek it,  became leaders for their time. 

These two sages look back over their lives of struggle. For years, they worked in their own ways to make a difference for their people and society. Now, toward the end of their lives Bessie says to us: "You had to decide: Am I going to change the world, or am I going to change me? Or maybe change the world a little bit, just by changing me? When I was young nothing could hold me back. It took me a hundred years to figure out I can't change the world. I can only change Bessie.  And, honey, that ain't easy either." 

Sarah's and Elizabeth's reflections give credence to my suspicions. I am faced time and again with a reality that in the grand scheme of things there is really very little I can change. At best I can only change myself. As I first change myself, I then change the world. What do you think?