I'm Just Trying To Wake Up

Years ago, a reporter approached a faithful witness outside of the prison where an execution was to take place. Seeing the individual's placard against capital punishment, the reporter asked, "Do you really believe you can change the world?". The faithful witness responded, "Not really, I'm just trying to keep the world from changing me!".

Every day I awake to the world that honors life with the light and warmth of the sun, the freshness and vitality of the air, and the beauty and splendor of nature. Yet everyday I also awake to a world of human corruption, crime and concupiscence.

I would like to believe that I am a part of the world that honors life. I would like to believe that I am a part of the world that rejoices, rather than merely profits, in a new day. And I would like to believe that I am part of the world that gives freely without exclusion.

There's no such thing as scarcity of world resources when a few, relatively speaking, own and store the majority of raw materials. There's no such thing as free enterprise when a few own and operate the means of production. And there's no such thing as equal opportunity and access when a few dominate positions of influence and control.

Do I believe I can change a world that dishonors into the world that honors life? Do I believe I can change a world of solipsism into the world of solidarity? And do I really believe I can change a world of hurting and killing into the world of blessing and thriving?

Not really. At this point and stage in my life, I'm just trying to wake up to the world that, though the news tells me otherwise, I'd like to believe still exists - even if only as the vision of a faithful witness.