Making a Positive Difference in the World

Joshua Cotter
August 2011

For many of us, there was a time when aligning ourselves with God and True Parents meant putting our own personal desires behind us, and following a path of service and sacrifice. With a little reflection, we can see that many powerful religions have started this way, with devoted individuals paving the way. Now, as we find ourselves closer to the ideal that God and True Parents desire for humankind, the path of public service and individual sacrifice can be balanced with personal success and material gain.

Religious people can become indoctrinated with the concept that money is evil and a factor that causes division. However, things are not necessarily good or evil. Achieving excellence on a personal and worldly level can be a positive accomplishment. Religious and spiritual people should aspire to bring divine value to all their endeavors, including the accumulation of wealth. Money is good when it is used for good. It is the intention for which it is being used that defines its quality.

How can we be successful in any area of our lives if we do not become passionate about creating success for ourselves, our families and the world? Desire is essential to success, and we should see the road to attaining what we desire as a communion with God. With a strong value system and the attainment of material wealth we can become people who can make a positive difference in the world.

An important aspect of acquiring wealth requires us to be confident in the knowledge that success is meant for us, regardless of the challenges we may encounter. The true path to wealth and success is having the vision and drive to make your dreams come true, and to persevere throughout periods of difficulty. Father has this to say on the subject:

"In order to accomplish your goal with conviction, you must go through a process of struggle. The bigger your hope is, the greater the proportion of conflicting elements that will arise to block your way. These elements will oppose you instead of being absorbed by you and will shove you out instead of welcoming you. The bigger the goal you are heading toward, there will be hardships waiting for you in proportion to that." (The Way of Young People, pg. 110)

We must never stop striving to achieve more in all areas of our lives, to become deep-hearted individuals who use material resources to move

Rev. Joshua Cotter

Executive Vice-President
HSA-UWC USA