Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
I actually texted these words to a friend today: “The thought of “X” being our next president scares me. I don’t even watch the news and I’m here in my little bunker hiding from the world. But I still have this little beacon of light coming out of me through my blog. I want to do more. I used to travel anywhere and it didn’t scare me. I’ve been a lot of places that I might not go again alone because of fear. I don’t want to live in a world where I feel scared to be me.”
We were talking back and forth about the Super Tuesday results AND an essay that I sent her written by Elizabeth Gilbert that was published on Conde Nast Traveler on 3/1/16. The essay is relevant to the state of the world we are in currently with the gist being that we need to stop being fearful of the world and the people who live in it and instead embrace the world and all of its people by continuing to serve and care for each other. (I will share the link to the article at the end…it will likely make you cry).
When I re-read my text to her I realized how fearful I have become myself. A woman who has traveled abroad numerous times…and many of those times alone…has become afraid of this world. I don’t like admitting that. I don’t want the world to change me; I want to continue to be the change. By continuing to be the change we must not sit still. It is more important than ever that we act. It is more important than ever that we unite and act together.
I have been blessed to get to know many of you over the last 2.5 years. I had phone conversations within the last week with three different people I initially connected with on Instagram or Twitter. I have shared one of their blogs…and this person called me to pray for me last week! I am going to be sharing one of their stories in the near future. And I talked to the third one just because it was time to talk. I feel a kinship with these people I have never even met in person. We communicate daily on social media…it is an amazing thing. As much as I don’t like a lot of things about social media…there are equally as many wonderful aspects. I believe we connect with certain people for a reason. We all share something in common…we desire to bring positive change to the world.
It is not only important to connect online though. We need to be having REAL face-to-face conversations. We need to worship together, pray together, serve together, and just do life together. And we need to stop being afraid of people in countries other than the one we live in. People are people everywhere. There is evil everywhere…not just off in the distance. By closing our blinds and shutting out the world we are becoming part of the problem.
I will continue to step out of my comfort zone and aim towards being the change. Will you? Start with a text or a phone call. Or invite a friend to church on Sunday. Or possibly just meet for coffee at Starbucks on a random Wednesday night. Start talking…start doing…start letting each other in. We are all God’s people. Let’s make the effort to take care of each other in our communities and around the globe.
Blessings,
Stacey ~ iamalive
Elizabeth Gilbert’s Life Changing Story From Indonesia That You Haven’t Heard: