Lesson 4: Embrace Change

Lesson 26

GOAL

Making a Difference

To understand important recurring global issues facing people around the world.

PATHWAYS

ASK MYSELF Am I aware of what is happening in the world today? Do I care?

READ Violence, destruction, and human tragedy, whether it is in a movie or in real life, affords us the opportunity to confront our fears of pain, weakness, despair, degradation, and annihilation while still feeling some level of safety. A similar sensation is sometimes experienced when standing close to a window in a tall building. Even though we are safe, we can experience a spark of fear looking down at the street far below.

We ask ourselves ultimate questions like, “If I was in that situation, what would I do?” “Would I be the hero or the villain?” “Could I endure the pain?” “Would I have the strength to recover?” The danger is, that when we are not under the pressure of tragedy, we tend to think better of ourselves than we really are. We play out the different scenarios in our head that make us feel better because it helps us to reconcile the reality that tragedy is uncontrollable.

While we have no control over when and where disaster strikes, finding a way to help those in need helps to divert our attention to hope. Making a difference makes a difference. You can be a change agent because your actions can bring hope to those in need.

It is easy to be overwhelmed into apathy by looking at an ocean of grief, but we are moved into compassionate action by seeing one crying child. Using the same strategy as the news, look for individual people with needs you can address. Whatever the need, caring about the plight of others helps us put our own problems into perspective. The real tragedy is when we insulate ourselves against the pain and suffering of others. Feeling numb and indifferent is understandable given the 24-hour news cycle filled with bad news, but ignorance is not a solution. Showing less empathy makes us less human.

WRITE This is an individual assignment. Use the questions below to organize your research. What tragedy or unrighteous issue affects you: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Explain the problem in your words: ________________________________________________________________________________________ Where does this suffering and grief take place? ________________________________________________________________________________________ What is being done to help? ________________________________________________________________________________________ What are your feelings when you read about this issue or see it on the news? ________________________________________________________________________________________ What if this happened to you or someone you love? How would you react? ________________________________________________________________________________________ What is preventing society from totally eliminating this issue? ________________________________________________________________________________________ You and your classmates can help work toward a solution to this problem by... ________________________________________________________________________________________

COMMENT Once you are done with your personal assignment, find other classmates that are moved by the same or similar issue and share your thoughts and observations with each other.

APPLY As a class, vote on one of the topics below or add some of your own. What topic touches you the most? Focus on your emotions when voting.

• Child labor • Human trafficking • Natural Disasters • Poverty • Terrorism • Hunger • War • Disease

What can you do as a class to take action? You may feel helpless, hopeless, and even clueless, but if your class could find just one person in need, could you; would you, help them? Research and discuss these issues and how they impact you. Start a creative process to find solutions and take action.

REFLECT When you hear about devastating tragedies and see heartbreaking images, what happens inside you? Do you ever think that something like that could happen to you or people you love? If a tragedy happened in your family or with your friends, what would you want others to do to help?

WILLPOWER

I educate myself on world issues, because I desire to alleviate suffering to the extent of my capacity.