What can I do? After hearing of so many terrible things happening in the world, I easily feel overwhelmed and ask myself, what can I do? This has been the most challenging aspect of the trip and the issue for me. Clearly, I have been influenced by what I have learned, but what does this changed attitude really accomplish? Does fighting peoples` attitudes and mindsets lead to actual change in the lives of those who are affected? This disconnect is something we all encounter as we learn about tough issues. Many people say that as more and more people become “enlightened”, gradual shifts in the world will happen. Are we, right now, the product of previous peoples` enlightenments? If so, can enlightenment ever be truly complete? Will we not continue to produce various problems as long as we continue? If this is the case, what is the point of enlightenment?
The biggest problem with things like sex and labor trafficking is that most people do not have to see it, and can go on with their lives mostly unaffected and unaware. What reason do we have to care? What does it mean to actually care for people being exploited? Is it really as simple as buying fair-trade and being philosophically opposed to the purchase of human beings? I`m not so sure. Are we truly able to care for someone without meeting and interacting with them? If we must know someone to care for them, what is the best course of action? We can`t all be social workers or doctors or police officers…how are we to know someone until we step out of our comfort zone and somehow search for the stuff of this world that is often less than pleasant? And then, how can we do this without coming off as condescending or naïve? Is it condescending and naïve to reach out to others who are different than us, with the hopes of helping them have a ‘better life’? It all comes down to the value we place on each individual`s right to define what life should be like. So often I just want to try to fix things and make it all, you know, nice. But these situations are usually complex, and people are certainly not to be sorted and set aside like laundry. This truly makes me examine my motives for wanting to help someone, or to work for a certain mission/cause. Am I in it to make myself feel better for what I perceive as the fault of my privileged life? Am I here for the purpose of fulfilling some role I think I am supposed to fit into, like model citizen or caring student? Or, am I more interested in the person?
It is really hard for me to generate energy for taking action or supporting something without knowing or hearing about the actual people involved, and I think this is probably true of most people. It all comes down to stepping outside of our own little bubbles, and relating to someone who is different than us. It means discarding our assumptions and the baggage of our upbringing—certainly not an easy task. I don`t think people are bad or don`t care. I think they are busy and tired, and don`t really know or have the motive to find out. I think it is counter-productive to place blame on anyone for these problems. So, what is productive?
I think it is important to realize that each of us is important. Every life is a life, and there is no single life that is worth more than another. As soon as we all start to see everyone, every single person alive today, as a child of God and as equal to us—that`s the kind of enlightenment that can change the world. I think it is the heart of Jesus to embrace people, regardless of their background, their social status, and any other part of their so-called identity. All of this stuff that we say we are: female, male, black, white, Christian, Muslim, vegetarian, American, gay, straight…none of it is who we truly are. Our true identity is a beloved child of God, made in his image and made to bring God praise. Until we can see beyond the labels this world gives us, we will never be able to see the Kingdom of Heaven. That`s just a part of the challenge that Jesus offers, but it`s certainly one worth walking forward in. So, yea—Reach out, reach up, reach inward, but most of all, reach for the one who gives you breathe. Without that, all of the other reaching will end empty-handed. -Hanna
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