Award-winning author Kathi Macias Encourages You to be a 'Beyond Me' Citizen

When I began thinking about Kathi Macias's new book, Beyond Me: Living a You-First Life in a Me-First World, I knew that it could have life-changing effects on more than just Christians. So therefore, I asked her to write an article about how following a true call to discipleship could impact the entire world. Here's what she had to say:

Are You a Beyond-Me Citizen?

By Kathi Macias

The late President John F. Kennedy is famous for having said in his inaugural address, "Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country."

Though he may not have been familiar with the specific term, the newly elected president was, in effect, calling on us as Americans to become "beyond me" citizens who, rather than limiting our efforts to our own immediate concerns, instead willingly give of ourselves to better our country. Sadly, since that frigid day in January 1961, many of us have ignored President Kennedy´s wise advice and have drifted in the opposite direction, ever polishing and honing our "what can the government do for me" attitude.

How has that happened? And what is a "beyond me" citizen? The answers to those two questions go hand in hand.

A "beyond me" citizen understands that our country was established to afford freedom of choice to those who live here; however, with that freedom comes responsibility. Because this country, in the words of another late president, was established as a "government of the people, by the people, for the people," then "we the people" must govern accordingly.

As in any governing body, whether a family or a nation, if those who govern (and in America that includes all citizens, not just those elected or appointed officials on the Hill or in the White House or in judicial chambers) do so with selfish motives, the health of the entire governed body will suffer. If the children within a family do nothing but stomp their feet and demand their "rights" (whether real or imagined), while refusing to contribute to the overall welfare of the household, that family is in serious trouble, regardless of how deeply the parents may love those children. And if parents reward those tantrums and enable that sort of behavior, the family is doomed.

I came of age during a time when everyone was marching for their rights, burning flags, and denouncing the very ones who were doing their best to be "beyond me" citizens (at times even giving their lives) to protect those rights. I was in danger of getting caught up in that sort of thinking myself until I noticed that no one seemed to be marching for and demanding their responsibilities. It was a watershed moment for me, as I realized I could remain a selfish, immature child for the rest of my life, throwing tantrums and expecting others to clean up my messes, or I could take a deep breath, square my shoulders, and find out what I could do to help. In other words, I came to the point of deciding whether I wanted to remain part of the problem or become part of the solution.

That was probably one of my first revelations that life really wasn´t all about me. It was a lesson I had to learn many times over the years—and still do!—but it was one that would serve me well, as I began to understand the need to be a "point of light" in the darkness, rather than another voice denouncing that darkness but doing nothing to dispel it.

President Kennedy had it right. As citizens who love this country, we need to stop focusing on "me"—my rights, my needs, my desires—and move beyond that to become a part of something much larger and nobler than anything we can ever achieve in our own limited scope of existence. And it all begins and ends with asking ourselves what we can do for someone else—whether one solitary individual, or an entire nation.

Kathi Macias is an award-winning author and speaker, with more than 20 books to her credit. Her most recent book, BEYOND ME: Living a You-First Life in a Me-First World, released July 1, 2008 (New Hope Publishers) and is available in most bookstores nationwide, as well as at all the main online bookstores and from Kathi´s website, www.kathimacias.com