If You Have Courage
I saw this quote from a book I've never read earlier today and it really struck me.
There is so much that can be said on the subject of what the world needs. The world always needs so much, and as Fascism, economic deprivation, violence, environmental destruction and so much more ill advances across so much of the world these days, most notably to me in my own country, it can be easy to feel like the world's needs so greatly exceed our capacity to give.
To me this quote is perfect instruction on how to face this.
We must not abdicate our responsibility to stand for something, but neither can we demand of ourselves that we solve anything. We can be a part of solutions that are important to us, but if one person could solve any of this alone, it would have been done long ago.
And so then there is this difficult task, of allowing ourselves to stay in touch with that part of ourselves that genuinely does care about the well-being of others, and yet knows it has limitations in how much it can help them. And allowing ourselves to act to help, knowing it won't solve anything, being satisfied with just moving things however slightly in the right direction.
Or maybe all we can do is slow down the speed at which we're moving in the wrong direction! However little or much it is, we are challenged to learn how to stay engaged even when facing such meager results from our heartfelt efforts.
And yet, we endure. And eventually, time and again, the good does prevail. We as a species survive. The planet is still here. So many species have gone extinct, which is tragic and must be improved upon, but some also come off the endangered species list sometimes. Things get polluted and then cleaned up. Children are kidnapped, and then found and returned to their parents. And so on. Things get worse, but because of the actions of ordinary people like you and me, they also get better.
This is worth caring about. This is worth standing up for. This is worth your love put into action.
And maybe it was designed in such a way that there would always be such huge problems that only together could we possibly solve them. Only by having faith in ourselves and in our fellow man could we do what we know must get done from the very core of our being. Perhaps this is yet another way life/the Divine gives us to see ourselves reflected back to ourselves within the mirror of our lives, and thereby become more of who we have the capacity to be.
Woe to the person who in their entire life never dares to care enough about anything to be willing to feel that power of moral conviction. Such lives get smaller and smaller, meaner and meaner, more and more hollow.
You have a creative power within you, even if you consider yourself an ordinary person. If you have the courage to feel all of who you are, you will be a healing force through your very being. May you feel like the blessing you are to this world.
(photo source: Mary Doria Russell)
Resteems always appreciated!
This post makes me think again about the importance of community. Listening to a podcast they were talking about the health benefits associated with living in close-knit communities and how suburbs are the complete opposite of that.
The more interactions we have with others the better. In a suburb setting people often go lengthy periods without running into their neighbors. Where as an apartment setting forces people to cross paths whether that be in the elevator on the way to work or in the shared common areas. Within that community setting there will be a better chance of your positive being either rubbing off on others or finding those with a like mind where together you can make a positive change.
Very true. Also greater chance of those who disagree running into each other, over and over, and having friends in common. This is how people compare ideas, develop critical reasoning skills, and mature their ideas. There are many things I think now that I didn't think just 5 years ago. Though some of that growth comes from my own observation of life and reflection, much comes from my interactions with the ideas of others who I trust have their hearts in it. For the most part, I respect a person who clearly cares, even if we disagree. (I do think there are some beliefs we need to be intolerant about though.)
But you're highlighting why people in cities tend to be more progressive in their thinking. In suburban areas people don't run into their neighbors much period, but even in rural areas, often they only run into people who are toeing the party line, so to say. Whether they really think the same or not, there is a lot of pressure to conform by presenting oneself as believing the same things.
Ultimately we each are responsible for our own action or failure to act. The more we learn, the more likely we can rise to the challenge in a way that genuinely supports our self-esteem, and so also our well-being in life.
I love that you pointed out the greater chance of running into those we disagree with. I might argue this is even more important.
What a beautiful blog.....I just love your this!
I mean...this is exactly the way I try to be.
The better part of us is discovered whenever we relate with others. Interactive session with others make us understand that man was not made to live alone. Looking at past world inventions and discoveries, it might have being started by one person but yet if you look deeply you will see the efforts of other to make that invention more better. So if any one decides to be an loner then the person might be inviting death in a quick manner.
That creative people comes out when we relate with others or when we relate with our own thought and the real us
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