The Ice Bucket Challenge
It is amazing what can be accomplished and the fruits that can be harvested from the planting of a single seed. Most, if not all of you, have heard of ( and some of you have participated in) the Ice Bucket challenge. It began with one name, Pete Frates, and one challenge. Pete was diagnosed with ALS in 2012 and by May 2014 he was confined to a wheelchair. Before he reached that stage though, Pete spent time raising awareness of the disease and speaking to the people and institutions that might be able to make a difference. In May of 2014 one friend introduced an idea to pour a bucket of water over your head and post a moment on social media. The hope was that this would raise awareness and funds needed to attack this disease. I wonder if this friend realized what would actually happen? The Ice Bucket Challenge, in just a month went viral and would ignite the passion and imagination of people world-wide. To date somewhere in the vicinity of 70million has been donated through this challenge and the awareness of ALS has risen substantially. According to the New York Times there have been more than 1.2million videos posted on Facebook and more than 2.2million posts on Twitter
A Single Seed
This is but one example of what can happen when a seed is planted and takes root. As I thought about this I began to 
imagine what a different world we would live in if only the same kind of fire were to be lit and the same passion ignited around all issues of justice and peace. What if, more than 3 million people came together calling for peace in the middle east ? What if more than 3 million people used the voice they have to call for better treatment of the Earth? What if, more than 3 million people were to unite around economic justice ? What if, more than 3 million people were to use their voices to bring attention to the issue of child poverty and call for it to end? What if we were so passionate as people of the Universe that we were willing to take action to make it happen? What if….
At Rendezvous 2014
At Rendezvous 2014, guest speaker, Kofi Hope said “ Christianity is love and Justice is love in action” . According to a demographic study of 200 countries done by “ PewResearch; Religion and Public Life Project” from 2011 there are 2.18 Billion Christians in the world. If then Christianity is love and justice is love in action, imagine what could be accomplished if we were set on fire? What if 2.18 Billion people called for peace in the world? What if 2.18 Billion people tackled the issues of global warming and called the world to account for its actions? What if 2.18 billion people called for even distribution of the worlds resources? What if 2.18 billion people demanded social, economic, and environmental justice? What if we were as Passionate as the one we claim to follow? What if…
What a Difference We Could Make!
Jesus is recorded as saying “ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. I have been anointed to preach good news to the poor; recovery of sight to blind. To set at liberty, all those who are oppressed and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord”. Many would suggest that this was his statement of ministry and his adult life was devoted to living this out in word and deed. If we say that we are ones who follow in his footsteps then this too should define our ministry and our mission. If only we did it as One what a difference we could make!!
Blessings
Valerie