Two weeks ago - an awful week which terminated with the
shooting of five law enforcement officers in Dallas - my friend Jason wrote a
long, heartfelt post on facebook which concluded with the call for a love
rebellion. A revised version of that
post is HERE, printed on this blog with his permission.
Jason makes a point that I happen to agree with - change
begins at the roots. There is a reason why the term grassroots came into
popular use. Those of you who garden
know that no matter how healthy a plant is, if its needs are not met at the root
level it will not flourish, it will eventually wither and die.
We are faced with a lot of top end problem solving these
days, as bursted-blooms on the national level declare that they can solve the
problems that fuel our fears - they can lead us to prosperity. And all the leaves surrounding them rustle
the echo of top-down solutions. We want
to believe them, because living in our increasingly violent, hate-shame-blame
filled world is getting unbearable. Somehow
our society has turned into Strange Days and we want to shout
"No, no, this is not what we wanted!
That was supposed to be fiction. Can we get a retake, please!"
This descent is aided by the medias, which reflects the culture
of our times as much as they shape it.
The news media is generally ready to provide you with the dirt on
whomever you don't agree with, so you can not agree with them even more. Social media creates the illusion of public forums
for civil discourse that are false, that amplify discord and divisiveness, and
propagate the spewing forth of opinions and ideas with a frightening anonymity
which holds the individual minimally accountable for their role in the
clamor. It is a culture of entitlement
where my right to be right, overrides any obligation to be kind and good. The
whole rambling mess becomes a committee-of-the-whole in which everyone talks,
no one listens, and nothing is resolved except that everyone becomes more
entrenched in their established positions.
We have to start by treating the roots. People are angry because they are afraid,
they feel threatened. In many cases
there are legitimate causes for that.
Fingers are pointed, labels are placed and replaced. The hopelessness and frustration can be
overwhelming. I know that is how I feel
very often.
What do we do? How do
we change the web of dysfunction and anger into something positive? Every problem we face, every change we are
screaming to make, has to start at the roots.
Work locally for the change you want, and more than that - work
personally to change the patina of society.
Jason presented a challenge in his facebook post: start a love rebellion. I accept his challenge.
Now I am pretty low on the "means" scale. I've never made more than $40,000 a year in
my life, and I currently make less than 30% of that. I am not idle. I work hard.
I have always worked hard. As a
casualty of the recession, I can tell you that hard work will not set you free,
and the American dream still being chanted in our political forums is a broken and
unrealistic one. Not everyone can be on top.
I still work hard, because I believe in the work that I am
engaged in. Prosperity is no longer a
focus. I don't share this to engender
your sympathy. I share it to erase the excuse that the "haves" must
make a kinder, more compassionate society happen, while the "have nots"
wait to receive its benefits. Nope, this
is a game where everybody must play. It
means letting go of labels, your own and those you place on others. It means letting go of recognition - no thank
you notes here. It means making a conscious
effort everyday to make your corner of the universe a little brighter.
Yesterday I woke up feeling pretty rested. I worked at home for over two hours before
leaving for a job site. I didn't get
everything done I intended to, and 10 minutes before it was time to leave I was
exhausted. I wanted to take a nap, not
drive 30+ miles. But, when you only work
part time a few days a week, this is not a luxury you can indulge in. So I climbed into the car and headed for the
freeway.
The line at the local Starbucks drive-thru was not as hugely
long as is normal, so I decided coffee was a good idea. As I waited in line I thought of Jason, and
of the rotten day I knew he had recently had.
When I came up to the window I paid for my drink with cash and handed a
Starbucks Gift Card that had been languishing in my wallet to the girl in the
window and said, "apply whatever is on this to whomever comes after
me." That was it. I had no idea who was behind me, and I never
will. But someone's day had a bright
spot in it because I was able to adjust my focus from me, to the rest of the
world long enough to buy a cup of coffee. A stranger. No terms applied. I have no idea how they vote, what they
believe. I only know that they exist, we
exist on the same planet - a place where we all are desperately engaged in the
pursuit of happiness.
This is a practice that Starbucks patrons engage in. I didn't invent it - not original. It also
happens at restaurants all over - paying it forward with a cuppa. Living with intentional kindness does not
have to be just about beverages, though it certainly can be. Next time I am in a restaurant I am seriously
going to consider asking the wait-person to put the next order for an
individual beverage he/she takes on my tab.
If it is served in a mug, a glass, or a cup I will pay for it. Wonder if you could get a whole restaurant to
"pay-it-around"? Imagine what
a paradigm shift that would be, if a whole group of people could think beyond
themselves so completely for just a moment.
I am going to intentionally engage in one act of kindness a
day for the next week. Today's already
happened. I gave help and encouragement
to some young men trying to park an SUV that apparently couldn't reverse. I
made careful suggestions. I watched to
make sure they were safe. I applauded them when they succeeded. I did not yell at them to stay off the lawn,
or ridicule them (either silently or out loud) for having a
less-than-fully-functional vehicle. Pretty benign, I know. But I could have just as easily walked away.
Take the challenge
and join me. It doesn't have to be
coffee. It just has to be intentional
and to someone you don't know without thought of reward or recognition. It could be something as simple as a compliment,
or offering to help someone who is struggling with full arms. It can be a smile and a door held open. And it certainly can be a cup of coffee or a
cookie. Be imaginative. Be kind.
Tend to your roots. Change your world.
You can join the rebellion on facebook, share your
experiences, and inspire others to accept the challenge. https://www.facebook.com/groups/575294989319335/
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