We are all basically good-hearted, born that way. We learn to navigate the norms of our family standards in our daily life. We try to cope with the challenges we face that arise outside of our control. We must learn to survive each day, seeking nutrition, shelter, social health, and education in life skills. Most of us, we humans, have little to say about the initial circumstances into which we are born. Genetic determination is on autopilot, and we acquire what is permitted us by our combination of genes, then we must cope as we mature and live within the margins of our genetic and social perimeters.
Our chaotic environment,and the elements shaping our future are influenced by results of choices made by those who came before us and those who have the power to influence the turn of daily events. We learn we are almost powerless to affect what, determines our health, our future opportunities, and how we see our role in the management of our lives.
But are we truly powerless? Is there nothing we can do to alter the course of life on this planet, in our societies, in our international relations? Out of the many born in each millennium, there have been those who have, as a handful of individuals, taken steps of courage to inspire millions to understand that, together they are stronger than the greedy power-brokers of the day.
They are the pathfinders whose wisdom and patience, quiet determination to hold fast to their vision and moral courage, cut through the mire of common hopelessness to inspire movements for improving the lot multitudes. What makes you so sure you are not the next pathfinder?
Do you have the patience to discover what you CAN do to make your present and future on this planet safer, healthier, and fulfilling? If you are patient enough to use your skills, can your skills be applied soon enough? How much time do we have to make the changes that will slow global warming, unify the networks of change makers, solidify the determination by humanity that we are stronger together than apart? Will patience kill us because we waited too long? What do we know of the people already working to solve global issues that will kill us if we don’t face the challenges and make the changes we need Immediately?
In a partial answer to these questions, and to encourage you to explore these ideas, choose your path, and take action as it is possible for you, I urge you to read Paul Hawken’s, Blessed Unrest. about which Bill McKibben says, “ This is the first full account of the real news of our time, and it’s exactly the opposite of the official account. The movers and shakers on our planet aren’t the billionaires and the generals—they are the incredible numbers of people around the world filled with love for neighbor and for the earth who are resisting, remaking, restoring, revitalizing. This powerful and lovely book is their story—our story—and it’s high time someone’s told it. Nothing you read for years to come will fill you with more hope and more determination.”
We need just enough patience to be hopeful, figure out which path towards the better way to live we can follow, join with others on that action, and never give up. Too much patience will kill us because we have, in our apathy, allowed others to determine our paths, we need to be patient enough, though, to develop collaborations and relationships that will strengthen us and help us make a difference! We can do this, please read the book and you will see multitudes of ways this is already happening and how you might like to take part!