Week 2 Journal

Summary of the main ideas and topics of the week.

This week the topic was "Be the Change". I learned that we can all be involved in social innovation. There are many different levels and ways to be involved. The reading talked about trying to improve things and make changes for the better no matter our career or job. I learned that there are many ways to be involved. People with many different backgrounds have found ways to be involved. 

A response to a specific reading, video, or activity. For instance, did something spark interest, surprise, anger, inspire, or confuse you? Reference the specific reading, video, or activity. Add your thoughts, and explain your reaction.

I really liked the article "Finding Your Calling in Life" by Jeffrey Thompson. I think the world has really confused this issue of finding our calling in life. There is no one right college, job, or spouse. Rather, we each need to figure out what our unique gifts are and use those to make the world and ourselves better. We need to use them to serve others. When we apply our unique gifts to everything in our lives, God will lead us and direct us to where we need to be. 

What connections do you see between Jeffrey Thompson’s article, the Gospel, and social innovation?

There are many connections between Jeffrey Thompson's article, the gospel, and social innovation. One connections is to use our gifts (Jeffrey Thompson's article) to make things better around us and that connects to social innovation because with social innovation we need to look around us and see what we can do to make a positive change. Another connection between the Gospel and social innovation is that we don't all have big callings or brand new ideas. Most of us are in more of a supporting role where we help do the work. We are primary teachers or YW/YM leaders or a counselor in a presidency. In social innovation these people are personnel directors, communications specialists, or volunteers. These people are needed in the church and in social innovation. Another connection is that work isn't always fun. I liked how Thompson quoted Joseph Campbell's phrase, "follow your bliss". Campbell later stated he should have said, "follow your blisters". Some days will be mundane - in all areas of our lives (church, work, hobbies). To get satisfaction out of anything and to learn and grown, we must work. All these things require some sort of sacrifice.