If you’re looking for a quick panic attack, you should check out the live tracker of the world’s population… We’re just about at 7.65 billion people on earth, a net gain of 58 million people over last year… The earth increases in population by 160,000 people per day.    There are more people on earth today than ever before. With all of the conversations about how damaging we are to the earth, some of imminent dangers of climate change, feeding this new population, fighting against all the waste…    We need to just take a second and breathe, and recognize the things that are outside of our control, and recognize the things that are within our control.    Some of us are wired to be world-changers, inventors, politicians that can drive systematic change… But most of us aren’t on a global platform. We’re local. We’re neighborhood-level local. And that’s a good thing. Because that’s where meaningful change takes place.    This stream of thought came from a single question I was asked this past week: What contribution are YOU making to the world?   And I want to ask you that same question: What contribution are YOU making to the world?   And this doesn’t have to revolve around our carbon footprint or anything like that, (although if that’s where the question convicts you, pay attention to that).   We’re presented with the opportunity to either be majoritively a consumer or a contributor.    Are you adding more than you’re subtracting? Or are you at a net-loss.    Contribution is defined as: the part played by a person or thing in bringing about a result or helping something to advance.   What are you helping to advance?    The conversation opens up a world of questions and opportunity for reflection… 

• Are we busy building our own little kingdoms?
• What are we doing with the gifts God has given us? 
• Which areas of our lives are getting our best energy and focus, and which areas are getting our worst? 

  I have a small sticky note on my computer that says, “Always be prepared to articulate the value you create.”    It started as a business exercise… To remind myself to always be communicating the value we’re adding to our client’s businesses, because in a world like branding, some of the value can be glossed over or go unnoticed.. Much like the value of safety if you’re buying a Volvo. It’s unnoticed, until it’s not. So you want to be clear from the out-set pointing out all of the areas you’re contributing to.   But that sticky note has sort of morphed over the year that it’s been there.    Value has become a much broader word. Value isn’t just boosting the bottom line of some company. Value is anywhere we’re adding good to the world.    Beauty, positivity, love, forgiveness, openness, wisdom…    Mill City Grows is a great organization in Lowell, a neighboring city, that sees abandoned parking lots or plots in densely populated parts of the city that are rundown and overgrown… And they transform those spaces into public gardens, with raised garden beds for local residents to grow their own food. They prioritize those plots to lower income folks that will actually grow vegetables and herbs that they feed their families with.   What a tangible, clear contribution being made. What was once an overgrown eyesore becomes a vibrant diversity of food and people.    It’s impossible to miss the contribution. Net gain. For everyone involved.   Wherever you want to apply the question to your life: What contribution areYOUmaking to the world?   If you imagine yourself to be a boat, moving through the world with a wake left behind you… What’s that wake comprised of?    Are people better off? Are people inspired? Are people loved? Are people encouraged? Are things better than you found them? Or are they slightly wilted?    I suppose this should be a question we’re constantly asking ourselves… Always keeping things in check.    I’m not suggesting that we never coast… or take a break. A season of abiding, just absorbing nutrients from those around us and not producing fruit. That’s necessary. We can’t always be ON, we can’t always be ADDING…    But if you were to zoom out from your life, is it contributor or consumer? Adding or subtracting? Net gain or net loss…    Life is far too short, and soon to be far too crowded, to have any posture other than adding good to the world. We’re going to need new solutions for global problems. We’re going to need people being kind to one another. We’re going to need people positioned to contribute, not simply consume.   The same goes for our nuclear families, our church families, our workplaces… We have enough leeches in the world already. We need leaders.   The immediate actionable thing here is to do a diagnosis… An honest dissection of where you’re at, what you’re caring most about, how you’re spending your time…    We all have basic needs that need to be met, but once those are satisfied, we need to shift our focuses outside of ourselves.    What contribution are you making to the world?   Maybe it’s small, and if so, the more the merrier. That’s beautiful. No one said you need press coverage. You weren’t doing all that good for personal recognition, right? Of course not. If you fly under the radar, even better. You’ll inspire others to make small, meaningful impacts as well.    There’s something that only you are wired to contribute to the world. You were made on purpose for a purpose. What is it?   What is something you know how to do that you take for granted? Start there. There are probably people that would like to know how to do that.    Whether it’s sales techniques or how to plant a garden, whether its leadership skills or parenting techniques, whether it’s how to skateboard or how to stop climate change… You can begin giving back. Adding to the common good. Contribution.    It feels good, because it is good.    So today, as you go about your day, ask yourself how you can minimize the areas that you’re sapping life out of the world, and how you can increase where you’re contributing… Adding to the good. Making the world a better place for our neighbors, the nations and the next generation.   I love you guys, let’s all contribute to make it a good day.