Today’s message was all about fitting in as the day started. I woke up around 9 AM, a tad bit stiff from my workout at Westside Rec Centre on Saturday morning. Saturday was a great day and a long one at that. For those who get my blog posts emailed to them would have noticed there was no email on Sunday. Decided just to sleep in.
Saturday night I spent the evening volunteering with the Calgary South Rotary printing tickets for their “Dream Home” and also for the Kinsmen Wheels and the Calgary Lions. These great organizations are in the service of taking care of the fine residents of Calgary. I am trying to figure out which organization fits what I have to offer. I am also looking at the Mason’s as well.
The Calgary Stampede grounds is a very interesting place after dark. I can’t really see me spending a minute on my own after dark. I was very fortunate to have served with a bunch of others, so safety in numbers. I have outgrown that lifestyle and really struggle to understand the lifestyle of drinking and partying. I really don’t understand how I did it either. However, I found some great people to help me change my direction perhaps these party goers will also find someone to serve them.
Now, in church today the sermon from our pastor was all about mercy. I can’t remember the name of the country singer whose song our message was crafted around, however the message was very clear on what changes have happened in our world. People’s values have changed from character to how we measure success.
In the past, an honest days work was what people prided themselves on, now it is the most dollars and the most amount of toys a person has collected that their true success in measured on. Yes, I was once part of this lifestyle, and I still battle daily with the “keeping up with the Jones” temptations. However, being strong willed and understanding my weaknesses help me deal with this on a daily basis.
The second character shift was once a person’s handshake was their word, now the only people getting rich are lawyers with the piles of contracts and agreements that fly back and forth on the simplest of deals. Wouldn’t it be nice to deal with people on a handshake again and that a person’s word was their honour. Maybe I am asking to much here or maybe others feel the same as I do.
The last point is how we could trust our neighbours. We left our doors unlocked and felt safe in our own homes. Today, everyone on my street has an alarm system in their house and it comes standard now on many cars.
What is happening in the world?
Is it part of the change video that I shared a couple of days ago?
Wouldn’t it be nice to have some values that stood forever. Perhaps a person’s word and integrity would be one? How about love thy neighbour? Maybe something simple as measuring success on the impact a person has on the community and not on their pocket book. I feel pretty good about the service work I did this weekend, how I serve with “Inn from the Cold” and how I invest time to help others with Calgary Entrepreneurs.
What are you doing to change the world?
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Stuart-
Love how you speak for the heart.
It is true, our world is changing before our very eyes.
The “simple things” now must compete for attention with our email in-boxes, IPod downloads, and the attempt to make another dollar in the day. Ironically, the simple life is what we all really desire away from these distractions.
I am reminded of my favorite verses, Ephesians 6:7-8.
To “serve wholeheartedly”. To me, this encompasses all that we should be responsible for as human beings. Serving eachother the same way we serve our Maker. Giving an honest day of hard work, keeping our word, and truly making a difference to those we touch everyday.
So, what am I doing to change the world?
Being of service to one person at a time. I won’t move any mountains today–or probably make a dent in my emails. But to someone, somewhere–I’ll matter.
Have an excellent day…