...................Whimsical Wednesdays............

"It is sad to me that some people are so intent on leaving their mark on the world, that they don't care if that mark is a scar."

                                                   -Unknown

We all want to be remembered. No one among us can truly say that we would not particularly care if we slipped from this life to the next unnoticed, without making a difference, or leaving a legacy. Since the dawn of time, man has set out to change the world we were placed in. This is tragic. This is beautiful. This is truth.
We all have our heroes and villains... Vices and Versus.... Just to name a few,
Jim Elliot was a powerful young missionary to a godless tribe in Ecuador. He lived to minister. He died young, at the age of twenty-eight. Much like Christ, he was murdered at the hands of those he came to minister to... yet his words live on.

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"He is no fool who gives 

what he cannot gain to gain 

what he cannot lose."

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C.S. Lewis was an Atheist-turned-Christian, who beautifully wove the Greater Love story of the cross into his famous series, "The Chronicles of Narnia." He was a defender of the faith, using his knowledge and wisdom to further the kingdom. He wrote, 

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"It is my hope that 

When I die, all of Hell

rejoices that I am out of

the fight."

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Martin Luther King Jr. Led a revolution of love against the hate of racism. He had a dream, and he dedicated his life to turning that dream into a reality. He lived, and died for his cause. He said, 

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"Darkness cannot drive out 

darkness, only light can do that. 

Hate cannot drive out hate, 

only love can do that." 

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These men were dream-believers, world-shakers, and kingdom-shapers. They were giants of the faith, and their legacy is an inspiration to this day. However, there are other types of world changers as well. On the other side of the coin we have, 

Adolf Hitler... his plan for world domination acted as a blade which cut the population of Jews by 63% . 5,962,129 Jewish humans were killed in the holocaust. He famously quoted, 

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"Make the lie big, 

make it simple, 

keep saying it, 

and eventually they 

will believe it."

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Margaret Sanger founded planned parenthood, at her best, she was a racist who viewed minority groups as, "Weeds which must be exterminated." At her worst, she possessed a killing mindset that was necessary to establish a superior race. Since it's founding, Planned Parenthood has resulted in over 50 million deaths, (at this time, more than that of the holocaust.)  She was quoted, 

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"The most merciful thing 

that a family does to one 

of it's infant members

is to kill it."

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These individuals have left a definite mark on the world, but that mark is a scar that will never completely heal this side of eternity. The difference between the hurters and healers, I believe is in their drive. The world cutters are driven by hate. Be it of people groups, or the voice of the victim, their hate drives them down the road of their ultimate demise. 

The comforters on the other hand are driven by a love that is not their own, They live , and at times, die for equality in chance, in choice, in voice. They long to draw others to the Greater Love of Christ by reflecting His sacrificial love to the world. We can choose to be driven by love, or by hate, and realize that we are each world changers, even if we are not the visionaries. We each have the power to invest in our environment for Christ. 

When the fallen nature of man has a significant influence, we as the church can be tempted to assume that when a ministry is not our dream, or vision, that it is not right or effective. I hope to always be aware that each established ministry is the preexisting work, and dream, of another. I want to avoid discounting a dream simply because it is not MY vision. Especially when the most prominent characteristic of a leader is their sacrifice.

I have recently felt the effects of a scar maker. The cut hurt, but the pain was not mine to claim. I do not bear the scars. It is my hope that you will go out this week ready to dream the impossible, and with God's help make it into a reality. As Elizabeth Elliot, (the wife of the martyred Jim Elliot) best put it, 

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"When You're wounded, 

talk to the man with 

the scars."

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