#forourworld

For Our World

With so many devastating things happening in the world today, it is so easy to be fearful and closed off to the people around us. What is easy isn’t always the best choice. 

A young poet, Mattie J.T. Stepanek, wrote many poems that promoted peace and positivity in times of great pain and sorrow. Mattie wrote “ For Our Word” on September 11, 2011(Just Peace: A Message of Hope).  In 2003 Billy Gilman recorded an album with many of Mattie’s poems including “For Our World” with music by Jimmy Nichols and David Malloy. Although Mattie has passed, his beautiful poetry still lives on and has the ability to touch the hearts of many.

I have always loved singing along to this song, and I like to take the time and think about how it relates to what is happening today in our world, and personally in my life. 

Today, a week after the San Bernardino shootings, and weeks after the Paris attacks, I heard that somewhere close to me a young man threatened to bomb a college medical center that I spent many years going to growing up. It is hard to look past all of the negativity in the media and to be hopeful that things will change for the better. This song came to mind at the perfect time, and I decided to put together a lyric video to share. I hope whoever takes the time to read this, or to watch this video can get something out of these beautiful words. 

Some of the lines that speak to me include:

“We need to notice, just notice, notice for a moment. Before the future slips away.” Sometimes I get consumed with whatever it is I am doing and I don’t take the time to notice and appreciate the things happening around me. Like looking at a sunset, or even just relaxing and watching my dogs play. Also, from another standpoint, taking the time to notice if someone close to me is hurting and in need of someone to talk to. All of these things are so common, yet its almost as if we ignore it.

“Let us pray differently, yet together.” We all have different ways that we express ourselves. We live in a world full of diversity. There are so many beautiful expressions of thoughts and prayers whether it is individual or specific spiritual practices. The point is that while there are different practices of these thoughts and prayers, they are all for the same purpose. What makes the world beautiful is the fact that there are so many different views. What is really important is how we all come together.