Can humans handle globalization?

I've been very stressed out this semester. I'm sure there are a variety of causes for this, but I've been thinking lately about global awareness as it pertains to consumerism and social justice issues. I'm taking a Religious Ethics of Food class so we're often discussing slave labor, the destruction of the Everglades due to the sugar industry, subsidies, starvation in other parts of the world, etc. This paired with the stress on activism on a college campus in school politics, state education budget cuts, feeding the hungry, donating to organizations, cleaning up parks, buying organic and locally grown produce, spending wisely, and hundreds of other causes is a lot to deal with and a lot to live up to. I don't know if everyone approaches these issues the same way I do, but I have become completely overwhelmed, wanting to be a conscious consumer, wanting to buy Tom's shoes because they're trendy and for a good cause, wanting to understand how my choices hurt or help people who are making the products I buy in destitute countries. But I CAN'T DO IT ALL.

Global consciousness and I don't mix well. And I don't think they have to or even necessarily should go together. Individuals can only stretch themselves so far. I can only befriend and truly love so many people. Sure, I can demonstrate compassion in a sense for every cause and everyone. But I have to focus. And we might all be a little more effective if we could find our passion or passions, at most a handful of them, and work to make these things better. I've always felt the need to be good at everything, to succeed at everything I do, to impress everyone with my ability to juggle a million things with ease. But I am slowly becoming convinced that the point of the Church as a community is to build trust and love and accountability in groups we can manage, not in megachurches. And this applies to general socialization as well. We're useless if we're overwhelmed. And we're not really helping very much if what we're doing leaves us deeply unsatisfied.

I went to an Ash wednesday service this past week and was particularly struck by one phrase the pastor said: "If you have faith in Christ and you've been baptized, that's it. You're forgiven." I needed that, "that's it" - I'm free, plain and simple. Knowing that I won't be considered less by God if I don't donate to every charity, shop at New Leaf, feed every starving child is so important. I will do what I do because that's where my heart is, because those things provide clarity and joy and work with my talents and desires and goals and convictions. I am forgiven, I am loved, I am doing fine. That's it.