At the most, we vote four times a year. Is that all we have to do? Do we just vote, and then go on social media and blast those who believe and vote differently than us? It seems strange to me because I see the hole. I see the gap. That’s one of my specialties. I am able to see the gaps in areas that no one wants to admit exist, but that doesn’t mean they are not there. In fact, those holes and gaps are growing larger, and they are causing most of our problems.
It’s the gaps and holes that I want to fill because if they are not filled then nothing changes, no matter who the leaders are. We have holes and gaps in our society, and they must be filled so that change can occur in our country. Change is not a bad thing. It is a necessity for growth. We are a young country, so we should always be growing and changing.
The first hole or gap that must be filled is the one of economic disparity. I am not one of those who blasts those who are billionaires, and those who are better not play the lottery this week. If you are a billionaire, that’s great. What I do wonder is why we, especially the church, have neglected the poor. The church is great at responding, especially to the emergencies, or drives for the holidays. However, the church would be stronger and a beacon of light if we would act instead of reacting.
We don’t always realize that what we do well, could benefit someone else. Do you love math? You could help guide some in our impoverished communities with a budget or help with taxes. There are centers at which you can volunteer in those areas. Do you love to cook or bake? You could work at a shelter within the food services area. You could also train others to create healthy meals. Are you in the medical field? You could donate time in a community to give basic health care. As a teacher, we need help. In our poor communities, we could use tutors to help our young people get on grade level with reading, writing, and math.
Volunteering your time can feel incredibly invading into your life because time is short and there is not enough time to give in your life. There are other ways to volunteer. Pick one issue in which you are extremely passionate and connect with a group online and volunteer with them. It could be as small as sending out announcements in emails or sending a group text.
For people who claim that they do not have the time to volunteer, then make sure you are not wasting your time debating or arguing on social media with people you do not know about politics. That does not help. It does not change anyone’s mind. It is just someone trying to receive validation that their way of thinking is the best way of thinking, and everyone should join them in their ideas. That is not helpful. In fact, it is harmful. No one is going to change their minds politically because of our social media posts. Doing a small act of kindness could create an incredible ripple effect of that act creating in someone else doing a small act of kindness, and then it continues to someone else.
Being active in serving the community always trumps voting because it validates the vote that you are giving. Besides, people will not remember you for how you voted. They will remember how you treated them. Our society has become so polluted with hatred toward those who think and believe differently than us. This has harmed the church because people believe that we hate those who think and believe differently than us. We don’t. We may not agree with the actions of stealing or murder, but we accept you for your different beliefs and thoughts.
When I was in youth ministry, I recognized a phenomenon with our growth in numbers. Our ministry thrived and grew numerically when we had unity. The moment a mole came in our group and began division, we began to disseminate. When we were united, everyone was willing and even volunteered to serve in various spaces. Being united wasn’t about the fact we all believed the same. Our unity came when we accepted and genuinely cared for everyone who walked into the room. Imagine that occurring in our churches and our country.
Voting is powerful, but maybe with our vote we need to serve. Along with our serving, we need to unite with those who think and believe differently than us. Power doesn’t come with one small act. It comes with many small acts that make the vote actually work. We are powerless when we insult those who are different from us. We are powerful when we empower those who need it. We need more actions with our voting and less arguing. We need more love and less hatred. Imagine the world we would wake up in with one in which people accepted one another instead of rejecting one another. You just might have a world in which the politicians have to do their jobs and fulfill their promises. Now that would be a powerful shift!
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