Where to Begin

P.O Box 1540, Albany Western Australia 6331
Phone/Fax: (08) 98 418 418
E-mail: abl-alb@omninet.net.au

Where to Begin
Friend, have you ever had the feeling that something needed to be done to straighten a crooked thing? Right a wrong? Slay a dragon? Perhaps the issue at hand was a social evil, a family matter, or a church problem. It could have been abortion, teen-age rebellion, or division. Most often the outcome is merely that we wring our hands, lament the problem is larger than our resources, and do nothing. However, there is a better approach. "But what can one person do about problems of such immense proportions?" somebody asks. In Alexander Solzhenitsyn's The First Circle, the character who appears to speak for him is named Nerzhin. At one point, Nerzhin is pondering this question: "If you wanted to set the world to rights, who would you begin with - yourself or other people?" Well, the frustration most of us feel about solving great problems is that we have no control over others and their behaviours. Thus we are willing to let the problem remain unaddressed - but feeling pious now that we are at least aware of it and concerned. However, every problem you have a true concern about, is one with which you can begin with yourself to make a difference. For instance, what can you do about the abortion problem? How about opening your home to a scared teen-ager whose choice is between abortion and being kicked out by humiliated parents? The crisis pregnancy centre in your city would love to have you as a volunteer to provide shelter for one of those girls. What can you do about adolescent rebellion? Spend more time with your own children to build bridges of love and communication. Or stick out your neck to share the pain of fellow-parents in their nightmare of alienation. What can you do about division in your church? Call a person from whom you have been estranged to have lunch and talk. Or host a luncheon for two people who are at odds to see if you can be a peacemaker for them. Friend, problems that remain someone else's responsibility go unresolved forever. At some point, somebody has to begin to set a matter right. Decades ago, a London newspaper asked its readers to respond to this question: "What is wrong with the world?" Letters began pouring in and were printed. One simply said, "Dear Sirs, I am. Sincerely, G.K. Chesterton." Can you think of anything that needs to be put right today? Perhaps you find it difficult to make good decisions? If so, I'd be pleased to send you a booklet which contains a four-step plan for making good decisions. I hope it will be helpful. To receive your FREE copy, just write to me at P.O. Box 1540, Albany, WA 6331. Or you may phone/fax your request on (08) 98 418418. or E-mail: abl-alb@omninet.net.au Have a great day!

Where to Begin

Friend, have you ever had the feeling that something needed to be done to straighten a crooked thing? Right a wrong? Slay a dragon? Perhaps the issue at hand was a social evil, a family matter, or a church problem. It could have been abortion, teen-age rebellion, or division.

Most often the outcome is merely that we wring our hands, lament the problem is larger than our resources, and do nothing. However, there is a better approach.

"But what can one person do about problems of such immense proportions?" somebody asks. In Alexander Solzhenitsyn's The First Circle, the character who appears to speak for him is named Nerzhin. At one point, Nerzhin is pondering this question: "If you wanted to set the world to rights, who would you begin with - yourself or other people?"

Well, the frustration most of us feel about solving great problems is that we have no control over others and their behaviours. Thus we are willing to let the problem remain unaddressed - but feeling pious now that we are at least aware of it and concerned. However, every problem you have a true concern about, is one with which you can begin with yourself to make a difference.

For instance, what can you do about the abortion problem? How about opening your home to a scared teen-ager whose choice is between abortion and being kicked out by humiliated parents? The crisis pregnancy centre in your city would love to have you as a volunteer to provide shelter for one of those girls.

What can you do about adolescent rebellion? Spend more time with your own children to build bridges of love and communication. Or stick out your neck to share the pain of fellow-parents in their nightmare of alienation.

What can you do about division in your church? Call a person from whom you have been estranged to have lunch and talk. Or host a luncheon for two people who are at odds to see if you can be a peacemaker for them.

Friend, problems that remain someone else's responsibility go unresolved forever. At some point, somebody has to begin to set a matter right. Decades ago, a London newspaper asked its readers to respond to this question: "What is wrong with the world?" Letters began pouring in and were printed. One simply said, "Dear Sirs, I am. Sincerely, G.K. Chesterton."

Can you think of anything that needs to be put right today? Perhaps you find it difficult to make good decisions? If so, I'd be pleased to send you a booklet which contains a four-step plan for making good decisions. I hope it will be helpful. To receive your FREE copy, just write to me at P.O. Box 1540, Albany, WA 6331. Or you may phone/fax your request on (08) 98 418418. or
E-mail: abl-alb@omninet.net.au

Have a great day!