THERE IS no hope we should all pack up and go home! Back to where we came from!

If you heard that today chances are the first thing you’d say to yourself is, “well I am home…” 

The reality wherever you are in the world today is that the world is a different place from what many of us dreamt about growing up. Now we understand better why some older folks we encountered when we were younger seemed so pessimistic about everything.

The headlines from across the world read like the scenes from a bad dream, “cost of living set to rise”, “man shot dead by police”, “economy slowing down”, “Leader of country found guilty of…” 

In the middle of all this is the light that the love of God in Christ Jesus offers. It’s hope that’s easily embarrassed and spread.

There is a saying that whatever you focus on becomes your reality. However, I’m not sure how true that is as I’ve been focusing on an image of a slimmer fitter Muyiwa for a prolonged period and I’m still waiting for my six-pack to show up! 

By now you’re probably laughing at me saying ‘what’s wrong with this joker!’ To a degree this is what a lot of us do, we’re unhappy about our situation, our world, and we keep wishing it will change. 

Here’s a noble idea for us all to be the change we want to see, to be the light in the darkness we see around us. To do that, we have to first embrace the light and freedom that Jesus himself offers all of us and believe that every action we take makes a difference. 

Can you imagine if you made up in your mind right now that the next time you see your brother or sister next door you’d take a moment to say something or do something that leaves them better than the moment you met them?

Imagine if you decided to give a family with young children that you see regularly vouchers that could mean their shopping for the week is done or at least a part of it. 

Now I know the worry might be that we don’t want to insult anyone by suggesting they are destitute but think about it yourself: energy costs have gone through the roof, the cost of food has increased yet the level of income has pretty much remained the same. There are reports of mothers skipping meals in order to be able to feed their loved ones here in the UK. 

These are things we read about places in the so-called ‘Third World’ countries and are moved to tears to take action. 

There are no television adverts with dramatic music to show you how bad the life of the person you’re looking at right now is. 

Look closely and all you’ll see is the best presentation they can muster to appear like they have it all together. You know that game, you play it too.  

So here’s the question: will you dare to step beyond your comfort zone and spread some love, a hello, a smile, a kind word could be the difference to someone today.

John the Apostle captured the words of Jesus in his writing of the gospel of John chapter 15 verse 13 “….This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends….” 

We all have our struggles great and small but the one who is perfecting us is Jesus and he’s greater than them all. Let’s make this happen, let’s stop dreaming of a better society and make it happen. You change your world one action at a time, I do the same… together we change the world!