12 Ways the World is Getting Better

When I told a friend I was writing on this topic, she said, “How are you going to come up with 12 things?” Most people believe we’re living in an Age of Decline. Some even feel that we’re on the Edge of Collapse. The media has something to do with this. Bad news makes better headlines.The sense of a world on the verge of extinction feeds media dependence. Keeping people in a state of fear, urgency and conspiracy marches people to the polls.

Can we break free? There is SO much to be hopeful and glad about!

1. Covid has Given Us A Better Vision of Work and Rest

America has long been a workaholic nation. Try these stats: In the U.S., 85.8 percent of males and 66.5 percent of females work more than 40 hours/week. According to the ILO, “Americans work 137 more hours per year than Japanese workers, 260 more hours per year than British workers, and 499 more hours per year than French workers.” Through covid, many of us are recalibrating and questioning our work/life (im)balance. More people than ever are making more time for their families, their children, for leisure, for the Sabbath rest that God intended for all. Sabbath rest can end our restlessness, the not-enough-ness that rules our lives and drives us to work ourselves to death.

2. A Deeper Appreciation for God’s Creatures

Yes, I know we’re all a bit crazy for our pets, and probably we shouldn’t be taking out life insurance on our ferret or buying lobster for our chihuahua, but we human beings are awakening to the wonder of God’s creatures in whole new ways. Science and documentaries are delivering astonishing news and views of the lives and loves of octopus, elephants, cuttlefish, dogs. How astonishing these creatures around us and what a constant source of joy and inspiration! (I highly recommend these: The Elephant Queen, My Octopus Teacher, Man, Woman, Dog.

3. We Can All Vroom Around the World!

Yes, the thrill of conferencing in our pajamas is a bit threadbare by now, (and it doesn’t work well for children) but I will never lose this astonishment: I sit on a faraway island in Alaska and I’m teaching people thousands of miles away. In my writing classes, we gather from Australia, South Africa, Denmark, Moldova, U.K., Uganda, Mongolia. I did not believe that virtual presence could approximate actual presence, but the last two years have shown me five thousand times over that a computer screen need not limit our God-given capacity for love and connection and learning.

4. Our Divided World Gives Us Unprecedented Opportunities

In the midst of a divided nation, and in a sometimes hostile public square, this is JUST the time for us to be who we are—”You are the light of the world,” Jesus said to those who follow him. How are we the light? “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons and daughters of God,” Jesus said. Paul tells us how to converse with others: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Where else will the world see God’s peace and grace in action if not through us? What an exciting time this is and what a life-saving mission we’ve been given!

 

5. Social Media Can Widen Our Compassion 

Yes, we have to limit our time on social media, and yes, we need to screen out the ranters and crazies. But in the midst of covid isolation, we still have the chance to “weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice.” We get to pray for Molly who has covid, we get to laugh with Davy and Elise who are getting married, we get to console Ben on the death of his mother. (And bonus! We get the peanut butter dump-cake recipe we’ll make for dessert and we get the sloth-in-a hammock pics. ) With careful use of SM, I’m more connected and empathetic with my friends and family (and with sloths).

6. The Achievements of Medical Scientists

I’m so proud of the 3 scientists in my family working in cancer research, teaching, and in vertical cultivation. I’m also unspeakably thankful for the legions of researchers who sprang to work against covid, developing multiple vaccines, saving many thousands of lives. In other medical accomplishments this year, a drug effective against obesity was developed; Polio has finally been fully defeated in Africa through a new vaccine. And a new vaccine against malaria (which kills 400,000 children a year) is showing great promise. We’re truly blessed by people who give their lives and careers to developing these lifesaving advancements. (Care to return to the days of polio, smallpox and bubonic plague, anyone?)

7. The Church is Exploding around the World

The countries with explosive growth in conversions to Christ are countries where Christianity is outlawed: Iran, Afganistan, China, Cambodia and many others. By 2030, China is likely to be home to 300 million believers. Is God limited by repressive governments? Not at all. Nothing can stop the Holy Spirit and the human hunger for the holy. He’s on the move all around us here as well if we open our eyes.

8. Progress in Slowing Climate Change

Yes, it’s true! The news on this front is not all doom and gloom. Countries are uniting behind the effort. At the United Nations climate conference, world leaders pledged to end deforestation by 2030. Emissions globally have flattened rather than risen. There’s a boom in global renewable energy development. While extreme weather events are more common, deaths are decreasing due to better technologies of prediction and infrastructure. Venture capital investments into climate and clean-tech startups have risen to levels never before seen, totaling more than $30 billion through the third quarter. There’s reason for hope—-and for our own continued efforts to lovingly steward and protect God’s amazing creation.

*9. The Blessing of Political Correctness

It’s easy to roll our eyes at the extremes of PC. (And who can keep straight every person’s chosen pronoun/s?) We can feel frustrated at times, but do we really want to return to the centuries when it was acceptable and even expected to degrade people because of their race, age, gender, size, income, mental health, education, accent, sexual identity or any other descriptor? If we ever long for the days of unrestrained “free speech” when we said what we wanted, no matter how dehumanizing, just remember what Facebook and Twitter were like through the last election. Does anyone want to live in a world like that? The best of “political correctness” reminds us to put a guard over our tongues, and to treat every person as who they truly are: made in God’s beautiful image. I see more and more people doing this.

10. Wear What You Want!

Remember when you could only buy one style of jeans—-whatever the rage was that year? Now, you can literally find as many as 24 different styles to choose from. And remember all the fashionistas telling us leggings were dead—10 years ago? We ignored them. And we wore what we wanted. I know this sounds trite and silly, but it represents something significant: many women and men I know are wearing just what they want, expressing their own creativity rather than what the current fashion gurus dictate. Individualism isn’t always positive, but in fashion, it’s utterly freeing.

11. #MeToo and #ChurchToo Hold Leaders Accountable

Yes, we must guard against over-reaching, and all are "innocent until proven guilty," but women who routinely experience harassment and abuse at work and in the church are finally being heard. And believed. (After how many centuries?) The unmasking of predatory movie directors, Olympic doctors and Christian leaders the past few years has been particularly painful and disillusioning, but these cautionary tales will strengthen our institutions, deconstruct toxic celebritydom, and keep ALL leaders accountable.

12. Forgiveness is winning!

I know, you want to see my study and statistics on this. But I tell you, I’m seeing it nearly every day. Yesterday, a friend wrote to tell me that her brother, estranged from their difficult mother for 50 years, just wrote his mother a letter of forgiveness. The mother had not changed at all, but he had. I see this happening in my writing classes, in churches, in people who realize that life is too short and energy too precious to waste on anger and bitterness. The earth is full of the love of God—-and we can be too. No matter what the new year brings. And if you say, “Leslie, I don’t live in the kind of world you’re describing”——then get busy. This is how we change the world—-by changing ourselves first.

We CAN look forward with excitement to the new year. St. Paul wrote from prison, “Rejoice—- in the Lord! Jesus said we’re the light of the world. Let’s throw off the pall of pessimism and join the loving, healing, rescuing work God is doing everywhere around the world. If 100 people reading this commit to this beautiful work in 2022, that’s 100 more ways the world is getting better.

Amen. May it Be So.

Who needs to hear these words of hope? Would you share with them?

And—-what have I missed in this list? What are some other ways the world is getting better?