jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj Activism does not need to be about altering this particular moment in time. Sometimes activism can mean changing our hearts in a moment and pouring that new spirit out into the world around us. Politics aside, it cannot be denied that our culture began to change the day President Obama was voted into office. Some of the cynics have lost satisfaction in their moment of hope five years ago because things have not changed like we were promised. Other skeptics are concerned with what the world is becoming. Few continue to press into a hope of a better tomorrow. What we are blind to see, I would humbly claim, is that something began to change. Our generation is probably right: we cannot change this year in our history so much so that life will be better for those who follow us because we wrote this one letter or took to the streets on a single afternoon. It’s true. It won’t do much at all. But if we continue to write, to move, to speak aloud in the moments when our hearts are stirred and our conscience pulled upon, rather than sitting back and analyzing the wreckage, we can begin to blaze a path towards the change we desire to see. Activism is not a day of shouting with a sign in hand. It is a position of the spirit that proclaims our belief that a better tomorrow can and should exist, and our refusal to rest regardless of whether we get to see that change. Activism is a spirit of perseverance because we may not change the world around us, and we may not get the prize at the end of
the race, but we can be a stepping stone of change for our cultural climate and a vital component to the change that one day may occur. There have been a lot of “mights” and “mays” here, and I mean that. I refuse to send you a message that being active is about accomplishments. I have a hard time believing Jesus’ biggest concern for our lives is what our actions result in. I am not so convinced that those who have experienced success will get a bigger mansion than those who have suffered many failures. I hold no notion that Christ will sit on the judgement seat and ask to see what we have done, but rather, why it is that we have done it. Because we live in a world that people do not really want to change, it is difficult to work only to see that world destroy itself again. I want to change because justice and love exist-of this I have no doubt. If we live in a world yet to come, and we are not praying for the rapture every night before bed, then we should be tirelessly striving to see our communities reflect the justice and love we claim to have faith will come. Tomorrow begins today, even when tomorrow is eternity. Amy Simmons, Senior, Psychology Major C LIC K HERE T O C O MME NT http://multnomahmuse.com/2013/03/30/get-active/#respond
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