11 March 2008

Realism is Depressing

I feel so overwhelmed by the pessimism that surrounds my studies. Not studies in general, but my area of study. As a Global Studies major, I am inundated with the statistics. Millions starve around the world. Human rights are constantly violated. Wars erupt. Corruption is rampant.


And here I sit. Affected only through study. I feel useless. I can do nothing. I cannot help. And sometimes I wonder if I should. Sometimes I wonder if it is not just for the best that humanity annihilates itself.


I get too much negative. I know all the bad things. But I do not know how to help. I feel that I cannot possibly help in light of the numbers. Nothing I ever do will dent the statistics. I am powerless.


I am generally an idealist. Envisioning a bright future. Vowing to love where I can and do everything I can to help everyone. (When my apathy does not take over.)


But I know I can never love enough. I can never change the world.


My head knows that a little helps. Perhaps I cannot help everyone, but I can help someone. I can change the world for one person.


But it is hard to reconcile my head and my heart. My heart is sore. My heart mourns and will not listen to reason. My heart is heavy and dragging me down.


How do I reconcile realism and idealism? How do I affect the world positively when everything tells me the world is going to hell?


How do I move past this?

2 comments:

Lindsey said...

Larz, I'm sorry that you are dealing with such. I hope that you, leaning on God, can come to a peace about the condition of the world. If anything, it is amazing that you are aware of issues and that you care in your heart. You will do amazing things for the world!

Anonymous said...

Is. 64:4 From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.

If we wait upon the Lord. If we would enter into the place of prayer we can affect nations. Through prayer we can end the injustice because that is the heart of the Father. All it take is one word from the mouth of God and human trafficking can collapse. Co-labor with Christ!

Pray. It is foolish, and stupid, and seems to be a big waste of time . . . but if we were to only pray. "God changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings" (Dan 2:21) So why don't we come before Him who is above ALL else and ask him to change the times and the seasons and to bring his Kingdom down to Earth? It really is just that simple.