Blog Action Day 2008: PovertyI have been thinking about what it was I could contribute to the international Blog Action Day conversation for a few weeks:
- I thought about highlighting a remarkable community service organization in my hometown that serves homeless men, women, and children.
- I considered writing about a recent book I've read about an art dealer and homeless man that has had a profound impact on me.
- Another option was to look at poverty statistics in the area, such as a recent study showing that female-headed households suffer disproportionately from poverty in Dallas-Fort Worth, and determine how to help spread the word.
I've read Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life and have also gone through a church-wide 40 Days of Purpose plan. It is a wonderful teaching tool and it helped me start doing some things I should and stop doing some things I shouldn't be doing. But, it really hasn't clicked for me until now.
What does this have to do with Blog Action Day 2008?
It all comes down to stewardship of influence. I found a 2006 TED talk by Pastor Warren entitled Living a Life of Purpose. In it Warren describes what he refers to as the purpose of influence:
The purpose of influence is to speak-up for those who have no influence.I think we can all agree that people living in poverty fall within the category of having little to no influence on society. This should be the reason so many influential bloggers choose to participate in a Blog Action Day, to reach millions in order to shed light on this global problem. It's not about ego, driving traffic, or SEO; it's about using the gifts we are given in order to do something good.
Think about your stewardship of influence and stewardship affluence:
