Are We Merely Seeds?

Some thoughts from a very powerful conversation that my close friend, Christian, and I shared. (He is a community development major from the Democratic Republic of Congo):

As social workers, community development facilitators, and non-governmental organization's we are trapped under the systems of society, which hold influential power much larger than that of our sphere of influence. We sweat below the heirarchy, which, if pursued, has the ability to make drastic changes to benefit the people with who we work. The system is corrupt. The system is unjust. However, the system defines societal development.

We work for justice. We work to meet the basic needs of all, but yet we feel alone. We work under the system and the reality appears to be that all our service is in vain. Let's take water, for example. There are a countless number of water sanitation initiatives, clean water education projects, filtering projects, and well drillings that are in progress. On a small-scale, some communities needs are being met, but what would the global crisis of clean water look like if the leaders of today mandated and provided access to clean water for every single person? What if the social workers, community developers, and NGO's were able to lead governments in an outline for solving the clean water crisis so that the "powers" can use their power effectively and for the benefit of the suffering?

Unfortunetly, this is all idealistic, at least presently speaking. The "systems" have always been in place, and sadly they will probably remain in their positions. So what do we make of this pessimistic outlook towards the role of such social advocates? Is our work making a difference? Are we just playing into the schemes of the system and perpetuating injustice?

It is as though we are just seeds. But am I forfeiting to the system if I call myself "just a seed"? Or is there honor in being a seed? Not only am I a seed, but it feels like my seed is blowing around the dry sand of the desert hoping that somehow, someway, it might be watered and grow into a fruit-producing tree.

I suppose this opportunity to live life as a seed wasn't mine in the first place. It was given to me by God. So why not give everything to the world around me? Why not surrender to this idea of life as not merely a seed, but of life as a seed that has a lot of potential to bear fruit? I trust that I'll be watered by God and not by the system.

Some people die before their death while others die at the time of their death. And some great people, such as Mother Teresa or Martin Luther King, died after their death because of the fruits left behind. But is it possible for me to change the world in a way where I will never die after my death?

I want to hear fruits of the seed dropping onto the ground after my death.