in hindsight it was probably the most defining moment of my life I was in my
defining moment of my life I was in my
defining moment of my life I was in my early 20s and I was starting to get
early 20s and I was starting to get
early 20s and I was starting to get excited about my spiritual life and my
excited about my spiritual life and my
excited about my spiritual life and my faith starting to get active and
faith starting to get active and
faith starting to get active and involved in my church but one day I
involved in my church but one day I
involved in my church but one day I found myself in a conversation with my
found myself in a conversation with my
found myself in a conversation with my dad who at that time wasn’t really into
dad who at that time wasn’t really into
dad who at that time wasn’t really into faith or church at all and our
faith or church at all and our
faith or church at all and our conversation around my parents kitchen
conversation around my parents kitchen
conversation around my parents kitchen table was all about why that was you
table was all about why that was you
table was all about why that was you know why was I getting into something
know why was I getting into something
know why was I getting into something that he was so onion to and so on that
that he was so onion to and so on that
that he was so onion to and so on that particular day he told me about his day
particular day he told me about his day
particular day he told me about his day at work that day now my dad was a school
at work that day now my dad was a school
at work that day now my dad was a school administrator and it was in an era where
administrator and it was in an era where
administrator and it was in an era where there was a teachers labor dispute and
there was a teachers labor dispute and
there was a teachers labor dispute and so my dad’s job that day as awkward as
so my dad’s job that day as awkward as
so my dad’s job that day as awkward as it was was to kind of mediate the picket
it was was to kind of mediate the picket
it was was to kind of mediate the picket line of the striking teachers and he
line of the striking teachers and he
line of the striking teachers and he told me on that particular day some
told me on that particular day some
told me on that particular day some parents came by now these parents were
parents came by now these parents were
parents came by now these parents were people who were also really into their
people who were also really into their
people who were also really into their faith and engaged in the life of their
faith and engaged in the life of their
faith and engaged in the life of their church but on that particular day these
church but on that particular day these
church but on that particular day these parents were driving by and if you can
parents were driving by and if you can
parents were driving by and if you can believe it they were throwing tomatoes
believe it they were throwing tomatoes
believe it they were throwing tomatoes at the striking teachers they were
at the striking teachers they were
at the striking teachers they were throwing tomatoes at the striking
throwing tomatoes at the striking
throwing tomatoes at the striking teachers I’ll never forget the look on
teachers I’ll never forget the look on
teachers I’ll never forget the look on my dad’s face as he looked at my eyes
my dad’s face as he looked at my eyes
my dad’s face as he looked at my eyes and he said what would I want anything
and he said what would I want anything
and he said what would I want anything to do with that I didn’t realize at the
to do with that I didn’t realize at the
to do with that I didn’t realize at the moment that it would be defining for me
moment that it would be defining for me
moment that it would be defining for me all I remember doing was walking out of
all I remember doing was walking out of
all I remember doing was walking out of my parents kitchen actually feeling kind
my parents kitchen actually feeling kind
my parents kitchen actually feeling kind of embarrassed that I was even getting
of embarrassed that I was even getting
of embarrassed that I was even getting into something that I thought could be
into something that I thought could be
into something that I thought could be so good but was clearly so hurtful to
so good but was clearly so hurtful to
so good but was clearly so hurtful to other people you know my dad had been
other people you know my dad had been
other people you know my dad had been such an important influence in my life
such an important influence in my life
such an important influence in my life and so this idea of what my future was
and so this idea of what my future was
and so this idea of what my future was going to become was just kind of
going to become was just kind of
going to become was just kind of crashing down before me all I could feel
crashing down before me all I could feel
crashing down before me all I could feel in that moment was just you know packing
in that moment was just you know packing
in that moment was just you know packing it in and throwing in the towel because
it in and throwing in the towel because
it in and throwing in the towel because of the discouragement and the sense of
of the discouragement and the sense of
of the discouragement and the sense of frustration that I was feeling but there
frustration that I was feeling but there
frustration that I was feeling but there was something inside me that appreciated
was something inside me that appreciated
was something inside me that appreciated that there
that there
that there be a second alternative there might be a
be a second alternative there might be a
be a second alternative there might be a different choice that I could make and
different choice that I could make and
different choice that I could make and it’s that choice that I want to talk to
it’s that choice that I want to talk to
it’s that choice that I want to talk to you about today now to be clear that
you about today now to be clear that
you about today now to be clear that second choice was not to feel any
second choice was not to feel any
second choice was not to feel any different than I was feeling there was
different than I was feeling there was
different than I was feeling there was no escaping feeling upset about the idea
no escaping feeling upset about the idea
no escaping feeling upset about the idea that tomato throwing Christians didn’t
that tomato throwing Christians didn’t
that tomato throwing Christians didn’t make any sense there was no way to
make any sense there was no way to
make any sense there was no way to change that feeling of completely
change that feeling of completely
change that feeling of completely agreeing with my dad the choice wasn’t
agreeing with my dad the choice wasn’t
agreeing with my dad the choice wasn’t to change my feelings the choice was
to change my feelings the choice was
to change my feelings the choice was what to do with those feelings now quick
what to do with those feelings now quick
what to do with those feelings now quick timeout have any of you ever experienced
timeout have any of you ever experienced
timeout have any of you ever experienced those kinds of feelings you ever felt
those kinds of feelings you ever felt
those kinds of feelings you ever felt frustrated or discouraged with something
frustrated or discouraged with something
frustrated or discouraged with something at school that made you just kind of
at school that made you just kind of
at school that made you just kind of feel like you had no option but to
feel like you had no option but to
feel like you had no option but to resign yourself to endure it never
resign yourself to endure it never
resign yourself to endure it never thrown out a good idea at work only to
thrown out a good idea at work only to
thrown out a good idea at work only to have it shot down right away and think
have it shot down right away and think
have it shot down right away and think well that’s the last time I share any of
well that’s the last time I share any of
well that’s the last time I share any of my ideas ever read about someone
my ideas ever read about someone
my ideas ever read about someone struggling or suffering in the newspaper
struggling or suffering in the newspaper
struggling or suffering in the newspaper and could it be embarrassed about the
and could it be embarrassed about the
and could it be embarrassed about the community that we live in but feel like
community that we live in but feel like
community that we live in but feel like there’s nothing else that you can do
there’s nothing else that you can do
there’s nothing else that you can do ever been treated poorly by your friends
ever been treated poorly by your friends
ever been treated poorly by your friends or watch them treat other people poorly
or watch them treat other people poorly
or watch them treat other people poorly and think you know maybe maybe it’s time
and think you know maybe maybe it’s time
and think you know maybe maybe it’s time to get myself some new friends have you
to get myself some new friends have you
to get myself some new friends have you ever been so frustrated or discouraged
ever been so frustrated or discouraged
ever been so frustrated or discouraged that you felt like your only option was
that you felt like your only option was
that you felt like your only option was to throw in the towel or just to pack it
to throw in the towel or just to pack it
to throw in the towel or just to pack it in you know in our day and age we have a
in you know in our day and age we have a
in you know in our day and age we have a name for that don’t we it’s a name both
name for that don’t we it’s a name both
name for that don’t we it’s a name both for that feeling and for the response
for that feeling and for the response
for that feeling and for the response that goes with that feeling
that goes with that feeling
that goes with that feeling it’s called being done never been done
it’s called being done never been done
it’s called being done never been done before maybe as a younger person you
before maybe as a younger person you
before maybe as a younger person you feel it’s so strongly you express it
feel it’s so strongly you express it
feel it’s so strongly you express it like I’m oh so done what I want to
like I’m oh so done what I want to
like I’m oh so done what I want to appreciate though today is that people
appreciate though today is that people
appreciate though today is that people who are done don’t change anything the
who are done don’t change anything the
who are done don’t change anything the world never gets changed by people who
world never gets changed by people who
world never gets changed by people who allow themselves to be done the world
allow themselves to be done the world
allow themselves to be done the world only gets changed by people who make the
only gets changed by people who make the
only gets changed by people who make the counterintuitive decision to actually do
counterintuitive decision to actually do
counterintuitive decision to actually do something in that very moment when they
something in that very moment when they
something in that very moment when they feel most done that’s what it means
feel most done that’s what it means
feel most done that’s what it means after all to as Gandhi says be the
after all to as Gandhi says be the
after all to as Gandhi says be the change that we want to see in the world
change that we want to see in the world
change that we want to see in the world to be change requires first wanting to
to be change requires first wanting to
to be change requires first wanting to see change and wanting to see change
see change and wanting to see change
see change and wanting to see change requires some level of dissatisfaction
requires some level of dissatisfaction
requires some level of dissatisfaction or frustration the challenge though is
or frustration the challenge though is
or frustration the challenge though is that oftentimes in that dissatisfaction
that oftentimes in that dissatisfaction
that oftentimes in that dissatisfaction and frustration were driven to just kind
and frustration were driven to just kind
and frustration were driven to just kind of throw in the towel and pack it in and
of throw in the towel and pack it in and
of throw in the towel and pack it in and we feel like we have no other
we feel like we have no other
we feel like we have no other alternative but if we truly want to be
alternative but if we truly want to be
alternative but if we truly want to be the change that we want to see in the
the change that we want to see in the
the change that we want to see in the world we need to make that
world we need to make that
world we need to make that counterintuitive choice we need to swim
counterintuitive choice we need to swim
counterintuitive choice we need to swim against the grain swim upstream from
against the grain swim upstream from
against the grain swim upstream from that gravitational pull to pack it in
that gravitational pull to pack it in
that gravitational pull to pack it in and to realize that if we’re gonna be
and to realize that if we’re gonna be
and to realize that if we’re gonna be the change we want to see in the world
the change we want to see in the world
the change we want to see in the world we’ve got to make a different choice
we’ve got to make a different choice
we’ve got to make a different choice than allowing ourselves to be done you
than allowing ourselves to be done you
than allowing ourselves to be done you know a lot of people assume that to be
know a lot of people assume that to be
know a lot of people assume that to be the change in the world requires some
the change in the world requires some
the change in the world requires some kind of grand vision or some imagination
kind of grand vision or some imagination
kind of grand vision or some imagination or creativity some picture of the future
or creativity some picture of the future
or creativity some picture of the future which is probably true but ultimately
which is probably true but ultimately
which is probably true but ultimately not the origin of change think about
not the origin of change think about
not the origin of change think about Martin Luther King’s famous I have a
Martin Luther King’s famous I have a
Martin Luther King’s famous I have a dream speech you know how what he
dream speech you know how what he
dream speech you know how what he actually said he said I stand before you
actually said he said I stand before you
actually said he said I stand before you today my friends and in spite of the
today my friends and in spite of the
today my friends and in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the
difficulties and frustrations of the
difficulties and frustrations of the moment I still have a dream his dream
moment I still have a dream his dream
moment I still have a dream his dream flowed out of the difficulties and
flowed out of the difficulties and
flowed out of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment closer to
frustrations of the moment closer to
frustrations of the moment closer to home some of us know about Craig
home some of us know about Craig
home some of us know about Craig Kielburger and his brother Mark and the
Kielburger and his brother Mark and the
Kielburger and his brother Mark and the social enterprise that they launched
social enterprise that they launched
social enterprise that they launched called me too we that that social
called me too we that that social
called me too we that that social enterprise didn’t launch off a dream
enterprise didn’t launch off a dream
enterprise didn’t launch off a dream ultimately it launched off of a 12-year
ultimately it launched off of a 12-year
ultimately it launched off of a 12-year old Craig Kielburger who was confronted
old Craig Kielburger who was confronted
old Craig Kielburger who was confronted with the reality of child labor and flew
with the reality of child labor and flew
with the reality of child labor and flew himself to India to get a first-hand
himself to India to get a first-hand
himself to India to get a first-hand look and it was out of that frustration
look and it was out of that frustration
look and it was out of that frustration and that dissatisfaction that then birth
and that dissatisfaction that then birth
and that dissatisfaction that then birth that dream see vision isn’t the first
that dream see vision isn’t the first
that dream see vision isn’t the first thing that comes vision is only the
thing that comes vision is only the
thing that comes vision is only the product of when we turned frustration
product of when we turned frustration
product of when we turned frustration into action it’s the first choice of
into action it’s the first choice of
into action it’s the first choice of what to do with our frustration and to
what to do with our frustration and to
what to do with our frustration and to do something about it that drives vision
do something about it that drives vision
do something about it that drives vision for the future so come back to those
for the future so come back to those
for the future so come back to those feelings that you might have a
feelings that you might have a
feelings that you might have a frustration or discouragement you know
frustration or discouragement you know
frustration or discouragement you know is there something in the culture the
is there something in the culture the
is there something in the culture the activity of your your student life that
activity of your your student life that
activity of your your student life that you can
you can
you can we do that you can contribute instead of
we do that you can contribute instead of
we do that you can contribute instead of just resigning yourself for life as it
just resigning yourself for life as it
just resigning yourself for life as it is either formally in student council or
is either formally in student council or
is either formally in student council or in a club or informally through some
in a club or informally through some
in a club or informally through some kind of initiative or event you know can
kind of initiative or event you know can
kind of initiative or event you know can you look at your friends and try to make
you look at your friends and try to make
you look at your friends and try to make an investment in the way that you relate
an investment in the way that you relate
an investment in the way that you relate instead of just writing off your
instead of just writing off your
instead of just writing off your friendships is there something that you
friendships is there something that you
friendships is there something that you can do instead of just resigning
can do instead of just resigning
can do instead of just resigning yourself to the way it is and allowing
yourself to the way it is and allowing
yourself to the way it is and allowing yourself to be just done in my life I
yourself to be just done in my life I
yourself to be just done in my life I think that that’s ultimately what made
think that that’s ultimately what made
think that that’s ultimately what made that defining moment so defining I knew
that defining moment so defining I knew
that defining moment so defining I knew that I had a choice in front of me I
that I had a choice in front of me I
that I had a choice in front of me I knew that I could completely agree with
knew that I could completely agree with
knew that I could completely agree with my dad that tomatoe throwing Christians
my dad that tomatoe throwing Christians
my dad that tomatoe throwing Christians didn’t make any sense and I could
didn’t make any sense and I could
didn’t make any sense and I could completely give up on the whole idea or
completely give up on the whole idea or
completely give up on the whole idea or I could completely agree with my dad
I could completely agree with my dad
I could completely agree with my dad that tomatoe throwing Christians didn’t
that tomatoe throwing Christians didn’t
that tomatoe throwing Christians didn’t make any sense and I could choose to do
make any sense and I could choose to do
make any sense and I could choose to do something about it I could give the rest
something about it I could give the rest
something about it I could give the rest of the best of my one and only life to
of the best of my one and only life to
of the best of my one and only life to trying to make a difference fast forward
trying to make a difference fast forward
trying to make a difference fast forward about 20 years and for the last almost
about 20 years and for the last almost
about 20 years and for the last almost two decades I’ve served as the pastor of
two decades I’ve served as the pastor of
two decades I’ve served as the pastor of the church that I grew up in these days
the church that I grew up in these days
the church that I grew up in these days were influencing local mayors to become
were influencing local mayors to become
were influencing local mayors to become more compassionate cities in a multi
more compassionate cities in a multi
more compassionate cities in a multi location church community that among
location church community that among
location church community that among other things hosts the region’s largest
other things hosts the region’s largest
other things hosts the region’s largest homeless shelter in one of our
homeless shelter in one of our
homeless shelter in one of our facilities you know the coolest part
facilities you know the coolest part
facilities you know the coolest part about all of it is these days I get to
about all of it is these days I get to
about all of it is these days I get to do that along with my dad who in the
do that along with my dad who in the
do that along with my dad who in the last number of years has embraced a
last number of years has embraced a
last number of years has embraced a faith of his own and is active in his
faith of his own and is active in his
faith of his own and is active in his retirement years serving the homeless
retirement years serving the homeless
retirement years serving the homeless and loving on people and showing them
and loving on people and showing them
and loving on people and showing them what he understands faith ought to look
what he understands faith ought to look
what he understands faith ought to look like
like
like in a way that’s different than throwing
in a way that’s different than throwing
in a way that’s different than throwing tomatoes at people lots changed in my
tomatoes at people lots changed in my
tomatoes at people lots changed in my life and in our family and even in our
life and in our family and even in our
life and in our family and even in our community over these last 20 years but I
community over these last 20 years but I
community over these last 20 years but I shudder to think of what it might have
shudder to think of what it might have
shudder to think of what it might have all looked like had I just allowed
all looked like had I just allowed
all looked like had I just allowed myself to be done what do you want your
myself to be done what do you want your
myself to be done what do you want your world to look like in 20 years what kind
world to look like in 20 years what kind
world to look like in 20 years what kind of change would you like to see in the
of change would you like to see in the
of change would you like to see in the next generation I want you to realize
next generation I want you to realize
next generation I want you to realize one thing people who pack it in do not
one thing people who pack it in do not
one thing people who pack it in do not change the world people who pack it in
change the world people who pack it in
change the world people who pack it in do not change the world
do not change the world
do not change the world our world only gets changed not by
our world only gets changed not by
our world only gets changed not by people who are done but by people who
people who are done but by people who
people who are done but by people who make the counterintuitive choice to
make the counterintuitive choice to
make the counterintuitive choice to actually do something in that moment
actually do something in that moment
actually do something in that moment when they are most done so in that place
when they are most done so in that place
when they are most done so in that place when you find yourself frustrated and
when you find yourself frustrated and
when you find yourself frustrated and discouraged and feel like packing it in
discouraged and feel like packing it in
discouraged and feel like packing it in remember that you have a choice
remember that you have a choice
remember that you have a choice and in that choice there is a defining
and in that choice there is a defining
and in that choice there is a defining moment waiting for each one of you to
moment waiting for each one of you to
moment waiting for each one of you to drive you to become a difference maker
drive you to become a difference maker
drive you to become a difference maker like you have never known before if only
like you have never known before if only
like you have never known before if only you will act on that choice and choose
you will act on that choice and choose
you will act on that choice and choose in that very moment when you feel most
in that very moment when you feel most
in that very moment when you feel most done to do something thanks very much
done to do something thanks very much
done to do something thanks very much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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