Thoughts

"Don't ask what the world needs.
Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it.
Because what the world needs
is people who have come alive."

- Howard Thurman

Since I've had a week at work when I haven't been swamped out of my mind, I've been doing a lot of blog-reading. And a lot of thinking. So many of my friends are so passionate about very interesting and important issues. Courtney has a thing for clean water in Africa. Which is amazing. And she (among others with a similar passion) have raised money (through their blogs, through selling bags and shirts and headbands and whatever else) to dig new wells for people in Africa through charity:water. Such an amazing thing. And Robyn - passionate about human trafficking (which happens a lot more than anyone really knows about), writes to her local morning TV show when they do a related piece, about how 70% of the world's chocolate comes from West Africa where over 12,000 children are in slave labor, and shouldn't the morning show do a piece about what we can do to help. Also amazing. And of course, Stephen, who has a job that provides medical research and health initiatives in the Congo.

So many issues in the world. And so many of my friends have personal attachments to one or more of them. Africa, clean water, adoption, free trade, public policy, poverty, children with cancer, slave labor.... And I've just been thinking about it a lot lately. All of it. And wondering....I read about all these things and am moved by many of them and care about them to varying degrees, and think its so great that people are passionate about them. But they are not MY passion. And for a few days I felt slightly...lost. And bored and pointless. And it made me wonder what my passion is. Do I have one? I briefly felt bad about not feeling led to start a food drive, or write a letter to my senator, or take a trip to Africa or....any of those things. But my thoughts quickly pulled away from guilt and worry, and on to just plain wondering. Knowing that I am where I am for a reason and that my life doesn't need to look like anyone elses, so why should my gifts and passions? It became more of a curiosity and a pondering than anything else.

What am I passionate about? Mostly? Three things come to mind. Photography. Not quite sure how that can save the world, but it certainly can be a gift to others. Dogs. Animal Rescue is certainly something I could get behind. I would have 10 dogs if I could. And then I worry that I'll accidentally become a hoarder (like they talk about on DogTown). My friends. Listening to them and knowing them and offering counsel, support and prayer.

So...I'm still thinking about how that will all play out. And I've been thinking a lot about the Howard Thurman quote above, which Geoff came across last week. It seems to speak to some of my thoughts. Not as an excuse to be self-serving. But as a reminder to myself that the best we can do for ourselves and others, is to be authentic. I think that's the first step.