Adaption

We talk about truth speaking to power. We have an image of that in our mind, don’t we? The defense attorney speaking to the jury, summarizing the truth of the accused, wrongly accuse we feel (know?). Or the young lad speaking to his state legislature about the injustices of judging his two lesbian moms, or the… You know the rest. Our sense of right wins over the wrong. Our hearts trump our minds.


Somehow that image is more real in other ways.


We chat with friends about seeing a homeless man on the local street. We discover he is a veteran. The shock turns to shame. How did this happen? Why didn’t he get the help he needed – needs – to show we honor his service? And now we want his life to mean whatever he/she deserves?


Soon a local group organizes to find a solution to his needs, and anyone else caught up in a similar plight. That group finds options. They explore them. They opt for a tiny house community with shared community house for education, shared help and education. And social interaction with others in the same situation. Solutions are designed. Now to implement them.


Another group ages into the middle of life. They wonder what the other half will be. They note millions of displaced careerists shoved into unemployment by economic forces or market shifts that demand other skills. Millions of Walmart Greeters, shelf stockers, hall monitors at the local high school, or Uber and Lyft drivers. Jobs they hold and perform, and even may enjoy, but at a third the pay and respect they once had. A loss of enormous potential to society.


That group wonders how to offer something better. Something that will utilize the skillsets, mature judgment and professional depth newer and younger workers have yet to learn. What unseen benefits are still needed the older talent pool can offer?


Society changes it business operations, its economic functioning, career demands, technology and so much more. New science changes old thinking. New partnerships in multiple disciplines create cross-thought dynamics. Discoveries are made. They are applied to current needs. New careers are created, new thoughts, new processes, entirely new industries.


Universities and colleges notice. They begin intentional examination into changing how students learn, how they apply what they learn to real life. They discover multi-disciplinary applications, processes. They allow students to explore their interests in conjunction with talents and education. Whole new futures are born – for the students, the educational institution and society. Those new futures permeate industry, commerce and most all institutions.


This is change. This is adaptation. This is the new barging into our lives.


Who does this? Who thinks this way? Who makes these things happen?


You. And I. So many others who see the need. Feel the need.


Living outside the box of conventionality requires thinking outside the box. That is where discovery lies. It takes courage, curiosity and resolve to do this sort of thing. Thank God there are people who have these traits.


In my experience they are the people who care and feel and have to make a difference in life. They are the volunteers and doers of things often ignored by the masses. They are also the people who drive nonprofits to accomplish things individuals and government cannot. So they do.


And society adapts to what is needed to do.


Let us give thanks for them all! Think on the possibilities.


December 9, 2019