soul cravings (8)

We were created to strive for progress and to pursue it with passion. It is God who designed us this way. He made us creative, and he makes us responsible. Somehow there are many of us who have missed this point. We have allowed human history to be shaped by those who are distant from God and hostile toward people.

Evil never looks for permission.

Tyrants never consider the appropriateness of their actions. One of the great tragedies of human history is that while those who are motivated by greed and power and violence have forged the future of their liking, too many of those who long for a better world have sat passively by, watching and wishing the world could be different.

I think I understand, at least in part, why. Sometimes it has been indifference, but I think quite often it has been a misunderstanding about God. We think it's God's job to fix everything. Sincere people have deferred their responsibility while waiting on God to do something, but it has created a spirituality that lacks initiative and engagement. This goes against the nature of the human spirit, and it goes against the way God has created us. We might actually conclude God is apathetic and indifferent just because we are. God created us to engage, solve problems, meet needs, do something with our lives. He made us to get involved and expects us to act. That's why someone like Mother Teresa helps us believe in God. Human compassion reflects God and moves us toward God.
(all directly from Soul Cravings, italics and bold added)

Thoughts?