I have to admit something; I am a terrible spectator. I cannot watch football without
screaming at the TV. When my girls played soccer, I was the crazy parent that
ran up and down the field yelling out game plans and plays. I never intended to
drag race motorcycles; I went to the track a few times to watch a friend make a
few passes, and after that I had no choice, I had to be on the track and not in
the stands. I’m driving the guys at the paint and body shop insane. They are
working on my car, and I want to be in there getting my hands dirty.
I noticed something a long time ago that bothers me
to this day. A lot of people are comfortable being spectators. They prefer to watch
other people work while they sit comfortably in their safe zone. There are
endless things to do, but a large majority of people prefer to be an armchair
coach and quarterback. Then, when things fail or do not happen, these same
people blame others. My advice is simple; “Put your money where your mouth is”.
I had a slogan on my race team t-shirts that backed that statement up further;
as a grudge racer I had one sentence on the back of my shirts, “Shut Up and
Race”. Stop running your mouth and do something.
This may seem as if I am getting off topic, but bear
with me. Referring to Scripture; Mark 12:31 Jesus tells us to love your
neighbor as yourself. Galations 5:14 throws Jesus’ command in your face. It
says, “The entire law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as
yourself”. Matthew 5:44 goes further and tells us to love our enemies and pray
for those that persecute us. Luke 6:27 doesn’t sugarcoat anything. Luke says, “Love
your enemies and do what is good to those that hate you”.
What do any of those verses have to do with being a
spectator? The answer is simple; we miss opportunities to help people in
serious need each and every day. Then we make excuses and complain about the
fact no one is doing anything. We have gone so far as to blame the government.
Here is a quick fact, the government was not initially set up and designed to
help or give to “We the people”. If the Church, family, and friends would step
up none of the government supplement programs would not be needed. People be
encouraged to get active, and do something positive with their talents and
skills.
What are you doing to help those around you? Can you
pick up the tab for an elderly person’s medication they have been neglecting to
use because they are on a fixed income? Can you repair someone’s vehicle, mow a
neighbor’s lawn, or take care of an issue in another person’s home? Can you pay
a bill for someone?
I am not bragging, but I am going to use myself as
an example. In the past I have given away vehicles. All but one
ran, and the man that received my Dodge Ram only needed a roller to install an
engine. I gave an older gentleman without a vehicle a Chevy Z71, and he is
still driving it today.
Everyone wants the world to be a better place, so
what are you doing to make a change? Every small effort helps. You never know,
you could lose everything you have and be the next person in need (I learned this
up close and personally). I’m not challenging anyone to “pay it forward”, or
just show an “act of kindness”. I am challenging you to make a permanent change
and watch your life, and the life of others become more than you ever imagined.
Stop being a spectator and get engaged. There are no excuses.
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