What to do...

Saturday was a beautiful day in central Ohio. Sunny, in the 60's with a brisk wind. Maybe winter is really winding down. Steve and I went to the AAA baseball park for the Columbus Clippers...a sure sign of spring. Then we headed to the Columbus zoo for a little aerobic walking—except I keep getting distracted by the animals so it may be more accurate to say we tried to move aerobically between exhibits...

In any event, as we entered one zoo building there was an Edmund Burke quote. It said, "Nobody makes a greater mistake than he who did noting because he could do so little." Burke lived between 1729 and 1797, so it does not bother me that he said "he." I just substitute he or she, and then take it personally. In doing a bit of research I found Burke also said, "All that's necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing."

I suppose these are heartening for me because I am watching the world news and wondering what difference one person, or five delegates, or even one diocese can make. We all have lots and lots of things pulling us in different directions. For me personally that includes being involved in family events (like meeting my brother and niece at Clippers stadium), local ministries where I volunteer, my sole proprietorship, Global Village Collection (a fair trade store) where I am president of the board, and then there are wonderful friends that I can't seem to find the time to see. I can't think of anyone who is not balancing most of these things in one way or another. It is our age and our culture.

Liberian Students

So I read Edmund Burke's words and think, it is not about how little money we seem to have to support the companion relationship explorations and help fill medical and educational needs in the process. It is not about our limited resources like the hours per week to dedicate to this process or having a huge number of people providing the benefits of their expertise. It is not about regional, national or international organizations getting involved...though all these things are very helpful. It is about what I CAN do, however small it seems, to live into my baptismal vow to "strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being." When I look at what other individuals already are doing, and have done, then I can cheerfully say (and believe) I will not make the mistake Burke articulates. There is evil in the world and it will not win if I can help it.