On October 27, 250 +/- people gathered at both Sunnyvale Presbyterian and Resurrection Catholic churches in Sunnyvale, and spent the day listening, discussing and planning how to make the world better. Along the way they saw our film, read our book, wore our T Shirts (all still available at: www.sanjosepby.org/BetterWorldStuff.htm) and spent the day in a community of hope and optimism.

Many want to make this event an annual affair. I'm not sure I'm up to considering that, especially so soon after the event. But things I'd like to consider now include: building powerful email communities from the participants in their areas of passion and continuing to suggest to them ways they might pursue their passion and make the part of the world that concerns them better; hosting a speaker on our theme of better world building at least once a year; and inspire my network of Hunger Action Enablers around the US to repeat this event in some form.

People prayed for the success of the event all over the country and their/our prayers were answered: the event was a big success. I am so grateful for all who helped, who considered the problems and solutions presented, who took out time from their busy weekend to focus on the world and making it a better place.

NOTICE, STOP, ACT
“How to Make the World a Better Place” Saturday, October 27

Remember the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)? One unlikely man walking down the road noticed an injured man lying there and took time out of his schedule to care for him (after others had passed by, ignoring him). Jesus tells us this act of compassion is what being a “neighbor” is all about: noticing, stopping, and acting.

On Oct. 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church is co-hosting, with Resurrection Church next door, a wonderful event called “How to Make the World a Better Place.” It’s an all-day learning-adventure on how we can each, in our way, be more neighborly and as a result make the world a little better off. The event is a day of exciting exploration for adults and teens to motivate, mobilize, and activate people to notice, and act, like the Good Samaritan.

The themes of this project are these: Love one another. Notice people and situations that need help. Everyone can do something. Do your “something,” even if it’s small, and do it soon (don’t wait for better timing – it might not come.)

This event combines an inspirational film, motivational speeches by State Assemblywoman Sally Lieber and the Rev. Noelle Damico, who runs the Food and Faith Ministry for our denomination, plus 30 workshops to choose from on gaining new skills, and solving weighty problems of the world from poverty to the environment. There will also be a special afternoon youth action-event as part of the bigger activity. Everyone who attends will receive a book of resource material from all the workshops (not just the three you can actually attend). A delicious lunch of locally-grown and prepared food will be served, wonderful music provided by our own Greg and Bev and others will be provided, and many local non-profit groups will be on hand to tell you what they are doing to make our local world better place. Registration is $20 (covers the day’s activities, lunch and the book) plus some canned or packaged food which will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank.

Complete details, including online registration, are at: www.sanjosepby.org/HowToMakeTheWorldABetterPlace.htm. You can also register by mail by getting one of the event brochures downloaded from the same web address.

Join me on the exciting journey toward shaping a world where more people act like “neighbors” to those in need. Your spiritual gifts, passion, and personal call will determine how your energies are best applied. God calls us each to use what we’ve been given so that the world will get better through our combined effort. Amen.

(from Sunnyvale Presbyterian Church October, 2007 Along the Way Newsletter)

"All we need is love" to quote a familiar Beatles tune. I think this is right... love is all we need. If we truly loved one another and our neighbor as ourself (which many faiths call their followers to do), we wouldn't want them to be hungry or homeless, to be taken advantage of in the labor market , or to enter into conflict against them. To love means sacrificing some of what we personally get, have or do, so that our beloved has some of what they need. Herein is part of the problem, of course, too many people have a need to take care of ourselves and our own before and sometimes instead of our neighbor.

In addition, we are called to love the earth, the lovely globe we call home. Loving the earth requires some sacrifice as well, a difficult thing for many. Turning off lights, saving energy, living more simply and lightly on the earth, being careful not to put harmful chemicals on the landscape lest it wash into the water system, etc. are all ways we can love the earth.

" The earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth. This we know. All things are connected, like the blood which unites one family. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself." - Chief Seattle

The upcoming film, book, and event on "How To Make The World A Better Place" are anchored by the story of The Good Samaritan. The Samaritan was the one who walked down the road and noticed the man beaten and robbed, laying in the road and, disregarding any hesitation, helped the man onto his donkey, led him to a nearby inn and payed for his stay plus any additional expenses that might come up. The Samaritan man came after several other men who could have also helped the man but chose not to (perhaps not even noticing him in the road.)

People who actually WANT to make the world a better place, need to NOTICE when things are going wrong and ACT to make things better (regardless of their busy schedule, convenience, and social, financial status or age) in a culture where lots of people walk by and don't notice anything is wrong or choose not to act to make things different. The Good Samaritan is a model for us in "sticking his neck out," something some don't want to do. Also this man valued a problem at hand over his own comfort, schedule, etc.

Themes of the new documentary film, "How To Make The World A Better Place," being filmed this month:

• What people need now is more love and caring
  
• If we loved each other more we would not tolerate our loved-ones being hungry or homeless, fighting wars, etc.
• What the earth needs now is to be appreciated and cared for
• We are stewards of the planet (and particularly our place in it and on it) and many take this lightly
  
• Everyone can do something.
  
• Helen Keller once wrote that "Until the great mass of the people shall be filled with the sense of responsibility for each other's welfare, social justice can never be attained. ."
• If just MORE people did a few positive things (help struggling people, stand up for the needs of the poor, work for justice, etc.) the world would be better off.
• Do it soon!
• We can sit around discussing what to do; write about what could be done - or get out and do some positive things - even small things, SOON!

Welcome to this blog. I'm new at this and don't have a lot of time to work on it, yet it seems important these days to be a blogger and trade ideas in this way, so well, here I go...

I am running an event in Sunnyvale, CA next October 27 called "How To Make The World A Better Place." It will showcase people who are in the process of making positive change and will inspire, excite and will hopefully propel others into change-making. In conjunction with that event we are making a documentary film (made by White Noise Productions of Seattle, WA), and making a book on the same subject. All of this is described on my website at: http://www.sanjosepby.org/HowToMakeTheWorldABetterPlace.htm.

I plan to use this space to explain what all of this includes and exchange ideas with people about how the world can really get better so that all people can live in peace.