The Main Challenge

I don’t want to sound like a broken record, or a nag, but there is so much more we can do to improve our lives than there is to find fault.

The latter has many devotees. Enemies, mostly. Nags, too! They seem only interested in spotting weaknesses in others and fault in thinking. Then they rhapsodize on their findings and dwell on what that all means. Of course they don’t reflect on what their fixation means about them. No; not even for a second!

Faults have one and only one value. They let us know that perfection is absent and may need attention. It does not mean attention need be applied immediately; only that something could be better and we have work to do.

Being a critic can become a full time job. But it is an easy job. If I don’t focus on my own weaknesses it is very easy to snoop into the lives of others. And so much more fun!

Yet it doesn't really provide a good end, does it? If we take the above scenario to its lengthy conclusion all we have is a devastating look at what is wrong in the life of someone else. Or what is wrong with our company, organization or nation. And who is wrong. And blah, blah, blah. No. it does not make us feel good or help us build a meaningful future.

To do that we must move several steps ahead. And imagine a more perfect situation. A more perfect condition. One in which we help each other solve problems common to us all. Seeking possibilities and future that will improve on our situation.

This is creative work. It is positive. It requires us to use multiple centers of intellectual talent and experience. It allows us to combine strengths to battle weaknesses. It helps reduce or erase the negatives. We are accomplishing more than what we are failing at!

Now there is something to imagine!

Cultivating vision of the future is not empty headed or useless work. It is an act of creation. It is fulfilling. It is sensitive to the needs of others. It employs our humanity to serve real needs and purposes.

It is not a world of big government or all-knowing ideology or know-it-all jerkdom. No. it is an act of hope and trust in mankind. At some point it will rely on big government perhaps, like in educational institutions and research and teaching. It relies on big government for overall defense of our nation and our people. It relies on the government to maintain order in the chaos of competing states seeking their own successes.

No. Meeting challenges is a good thing and fun to do. Benefits accrue to everyone if we do this right. Also, it teaches us that we can handle complex issues in positive ways. Saying no is easy. Finding fault is easy.

The true test of our humanity is whether we can lend a hand to someone else, or if we can share our creative ideas to improve our future together.

Do we have such faith in each other that we can do this?

If you do it is time to let others know and urge them to get moving on the solutions to many problems. You might start with your congressman or senator in Washington DC! Or the same in your statehouse.

Just saying……

February 20, 2013