“I’d like to make a difference, but I don’t know what to do.” As a teacher, I’ve often heard this from my college students and have wondered if this is really the students’ view of themselves or if it is simply a rehashing of a cultural story heard over and over again from their families, peers, television, social media, etc.
It’s been said, “We are the stories we tell ourselves.” To me this means that the stories we rehearse in our thinking often become what we see in our daily lives. For example, if we expect our life will be full of various limitations, we may see a script of limited opportunity played out. So how can we honor a story of ourselves that affirms the infinite possibilities of good that God created us to experience?
To make a difference and bring healing to the world, the elements of a true story might embody things such as deep spiritual questioning, meaning, purpose, authenticity, independent thought, wonder, and a desire to use one’s unique talents to meet the world’s great needs.
