Sitting Under Gideon's Tree

I look around at the world today and think as Gideon did, "if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of...” Surely we can do better than this?! Then I hear that voice that says "You do better and surely it will be better." In that moment I am reminded just as Gideon before me that change begins with me, That looking outside of ones self rarely produces answers and that hope is an eternal spring to be accessed by the diligent.

It is real easy to default to despair when the chaos of the world is broadcast on an endless stream of mainline media platters advising that their only goal is to keep us informed. The war, hunger, deceit & greed that permeate the airwaves is enough to make one throw hands up in surrender to the anarchy and just give up. But we must be mindful that the state the world is in didn't happen in one year, 10 years or 20. We must remember that generations spent centuries shape this world into the image we see today. This is no coincidence. What we witness is the direct effect of years of causes that leave us scratching our heads at where to go now. The beauty is that right in the midst of this apparently gloomy picture is the very answer that we seek. If what we are living now is the result of deeds, thoughts & intentions started generations back, then we are the generations that will shape the future. (While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest... shall not cease. ~Genesis 8:22)

Our diligent, faithful, heartfelt work are the begin of the wave of positive change that will crash righteously on the shore of the future washing away the vices of our present. As someone in my early forties I understand the wave truly began generations before mine, but in the perspective of millennial living my generation is still just at the trough of this wave. It now falls to us to keep the swell growing.

Every genuine act of kindness plants a seed for a world of loving kindness. Every present act of integrity lays the ground work for a future where truth not deceit is the norm. Our present generosity will spawn a world where few, if any, lack the basic necessities. And everyone of these creative acts of empowerment will empower a future that give thanks for our effort.
Now clearer is the sentiment: If in this life only we have hope... we are of all men most miserable. (1 Corinthians 15:19)

Surely we CAN do better! We are the ones we are waiting for! Are we up to the challenge? I say yes! Start today with one creative act of empowerment!... Your great, great, great, great grandchildren will thank you!