“You can never stop believing and acting in the belief that your cause has the power to change the world. If you don’t believe then who will?” ~ Brian Sooy

A cause is a reason or motive for some human action. Brian Sooy writes in his book “Raise Your Voice: A Cause Manifesto” that a non-profit organization must be passionate about their cause and clearly articulate their cause using both words and visual imagery. This clarity will inspire others to join their cause and take action.

A recent Washington Post article’s words and visual imagery clearly articulated a cause to me:  addressing the practical needs of Syrian refugee children. In the article, a young girl is quoted.

“I’m not okay,’ says a 12-year-old refugee on the Serbia-Croatia border.

I’m still haunted by this quote and the photo of 12 year old Judy who said it. I have been praying for her, asking God to protect her wherever she is and wherever she goes. I know she represents thousands of children who are currently refugees around the world. In my mind, she is their spokeswoman. (You can read the full Washington Post article and see the photo by clicking this link:
“I’m not ok.”)

How do I take action on this cause? I’m not sure yet, but I’ve set up a small “task force” within my GO! Mission Team. We have begun strategizing how we can use our personal power and our resources to take action.

Is there a cause that has pierced your conscience? How can you use your personal power to take action?

Let me close this blog post with a poem written by my daughter Vanessa.

“Stander by”

by Vanessa Freeman

I find myself wondering how the biggest evils of the world happened
Well, I found myself
Bystander
Stand her by
In the shoes that many have undoubtedly stood
Eyes mesmerized by things that were clearly no good
Stander by
Wipe your eyes
Make sure you see all that you despise
I found myself
In a psychological warfare
Many others were there yet nobody was fighting
It seemed that my predecessors had come to a point
Before resigning
Complying
Passively abiding
How did the evils of the world happen?
Authority
The reality that You have no power
Learned helplessness
The system is invincible
Fear
Knowing that speaking out is the same as choosing to permanently disappear
Ambition
Your trajectory will continue upon a simple omission
Bystander
Wipe your eyes
Is what you were seeing your demise
Stand her by
Did you not realize
What was happening all along wasn’t all wrong
Now you can see it
It really wasn’t that bad
She’s still alive
Bystander
Stand by them
You’re in the ring
Pen in hand
You are them
The evil is you
You stood by and were consumed.

“And David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?””~ I Samuel‬ ‭17:29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬