Verse of the Week...

I'm Gonna Make A Change,

For Once In My Life

It's Gonna Feel Real Good,

Gonna Make A Difference

Gonna Make It Right . . .

--Michael Jackson, Man in the Mirror

Tell me if you can identify. You’re cruising through your day, through your life, and out of nowhere, all of a sudden, you come upon a people or a person in the midst of great need, intense suffering. It overwhelms you. If not them, you look their condition in the face and you pause. Emotions flood your heart. Maybe tears flood your eyes. At the least, questions flood your mind: 'What can I do? Could I help? I mean really help? In light of the situation, would my response even make a dent? After all, I’m just me—one person.'

I can’t count how many times these questions have gotten the best of me. Case in point: A few nights ago I’m watching a telethon, run by Hollywood celebs, raising funds for recovery efforts in Haiti. They’re asking for donations, and not for big, impressive gifts, not for thousands of dollars, but even $20, from anyone willing and able to spare it. Further, viewers can send a text message to a special number and give $10 to the cause. As much as I hate to admit it, the aforementioned questions began flowing: 'The devastation in that place is catastrophic; what is it going to matter if I give $10? I want to help these people, I do, but is my paltry offering even going begin to make a difference?' Again, it shames me to write this. It does. But it’s true.

A few weeks ago I wrote about how change is possible. I suggested that in order to make life better, to make the world a better place, all we need is love. And God is love, so all we need is God. That remains my suggestion, but I need to expand. That concept is the what, if you will; I want to talk about the how, because theories only hold weight to the extent to which they’re applicable.

This week’s ‘verse’ is actually the lyrics of the late-Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror. It’s far and away my favorite MJ song. Why? Because, when so often we’re encouraged to deflect or shift responsibility to someone or something else, it compels us to take a stand--to look in the mirror when we ask who should act, who should help, who should respond to need.


I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror

I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways

And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer

If You Wanna Make The World

A Better Place

Take A Look At Yourself, And

Then Make A Change


So true, right? Let me point something out though. The song insists we take a look at ourselves and make a change. And although it seems at first glace to imply we look in the mirror, assume responsibility, and then go out and make a difference, I don’t think that’s what it’s saying, at least not in full. See, I believe a change needs to occur within us first, far before it will occur in our world. What is it? We (certainly I) need a change in mentality, a shift in perspective. I need to experience a transformation in my thought process if I’m ever to be an agent of transformation in the world. Namely, I must see and value the difference I can make, regardless of how small or seemingly insignificant. If my mantra becomes, ‘A small difference made is still a difference made,’ my former paralysis is cured and I’m compelled to action. But I need God to make this change. Really, I need Him to do this work; if left up to me, I’ve proven, time and again, it won’t get done.

For a brief moment, think if everyone thought this way. Think of the possibilities. Now stop that thought. Stop it right now. And join me in taking a spot in front of the nearest mirror to see with whom it all begins. It starts with me. It starts with you. And ultimately, it doesn’t matter what anyone else does or doesn’t do.


A Willow Deeply Scarred,

Somebody's Broken Heart

And A Washed-Out Dream

They Follow The Pattern Of The Wind, Ya' See

Cause They Got No Place To Be

That's Why I'm Starting With

Me


How about you?

Grace to you, as you look in the mirror,

Voice of another