by

Leo Crocker Rogers

We all want a better world. Don’t we?

When we see someone do a great job, we feel good. We feel we are on the same team. It makes us want to do more than we normally do. We like winning, courtesy, kindness, holding hands. "I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony."

But when we see someone do a sloppy job, or is late, we feel non-good. We feel that we are not on the same team. It makes us want to set aside working with that person and perhaps others. We can see losses ahead, repercussions, distance. "When things like this happen, I want to yell."

So what do we do? We say to ourselves, "I would not behave that way. I could be a better police person, a better clerk, a better pilot, a better quarterback, a more honest banker, and definitely a politician of greater integrity."

Know what? Each of those people, including us, are as far up the ladder of social contribution as their (our) faith, education, and desire has allowed. Everyone, every single person, is where their life has taken them. And more? And more is that every one of us is doing the very best we know how to do. Right?

If any one of us knows how to be better, we would be better. Each of us is doing, not only our best, but if we truly desired someone else’s job we could get it. In practice, if we are willing to walk the walk of the person whose job we wish, we could be that person and have his/her job.

I met a lady from Israel and a man from Brazil this weekend. They were running a clothing store in Mission Beach, California. They had the cash register and the inventory under their sole control. We talked. They had been in the U.S.A. less than a year. They both had their job for over 11 months. They came. They applied everywhere. They got a job.

Every step we have taken has put us exactly where we are, and everyone else exactly where they are.

If we always do what we have always done, we will always be what we are today.

If we want the world to be what it is today, all we have to do is next to nothing.

If we want a better world, we have to do a better job than today.

The choice, as always, is ours. (John 14:12)