Saved to Influence the World

Perhaps it's destiny. Perhaps it's good marketing. Or perhaps it's just me wanting to know more. But the May 12 2008 issue of Time Magazine (Double Issue) is the most inspiring read of the year so far for me. It is good in the one hand to know about the 100 Most Influential Persons of the year (for Time anyway); on the other hand it is comforting to know someone is doing something to make the world a better place (most but not all of the 100, I think).

But is it really enough just to make the world a better place? Yes and no. Before I venture into the answer, I have come to inner consensus that each of us homo sapiens have a inherent duty to make our habitat more "livable", so to speak. And by livable, I don't only mean environmentally livable- but socially livable as well. If everyone on earth could make 5 persons smile and help out 5 persons (just a suggestion, not a rule), then that has to make 6.7 billion in the world tenfold happier(do the math). That, indeed, also is the essence of Love Thy Neighbor - the pillars of my Faith and of our society.

And to Love thy neighbor is only to fulfil one part of the dichotomy of the Christian Faith - the first and foremost being Love the Lord. That, only one person could do among Time's 100 Most Influential.

His name is Kaka. If you can't identify the name, you are not a fan of football, not even a spectator. Named FIFA's footballer of the year 2007, the Brazilian midfielder is a class of his own. His boyish face represents the youthfulness of footballing, his skills represents the finest in the Beautiful Game. But not many will know him as a child of God- in football, the cross is not a good thing (for example, in a penalty shootout - a cross signifies a miss). But after appearing on Time, perhaps many more will know that Kaka's believes in a God that is more graceful than his feet. This is a portion of Casey Keller's testimony for the 26 year-old AC Milan player:

There is, however, more to him than sport. In 2004, Kaka became the UN World Food Program's youngest ambassador. And he is devoted to his faith. An evangelical Christian, Kaka has talked publicly about becoming a minister when he retires from the game. After winning the European Champions League final last year, he took off his jersey to reveal a T shirt that read, I BELONG TO JESUS.

I might question whether soccer stadiums are the right venue for promoting religion, but in an age in which many professional athletes care more about cars, women and controversy, it's refreshing to see one who is committed to having a positive impact on the world around him.

If I ever want to influence the world into a better place (and I do), I want to do it like Kaka. To strive to be the best, to help the poor and needy, and after all that proclaim that I did it through my Lord and Saviour.


I also admire cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, who taught the world that "...after Lance, no one of us could ever again say it was too hard, the odds stacked against us were too high, the fight already lost" (quoted from Elizabeth Edwards in Time's 100).