Monday, October 23, 2017

Spark of Progress



Spark of Progress
Copyright 2017 Don Ray

Life and pain and survival prod us into action.  Occasionally opportunity may prod us into action.  On rare occasions our own drive and creativity will prod us into action.  But most typically it is pain and survival that motivate us.

That means our actions will probably not be well thought out.  They will probably address issues in a short term, reactive way instead of a long term, resolving way.  The condition of the world - the environment - our nation - and our individual lives testify to this.

Yet still once in awhile the Spirit of human potential motivates our individual or national actions and progress and creativity momentarily result.  


The potential for that Spirit resides in each of us.  As children we don’t question that, but soon enough fear and pain and lust make us doubt the existence of any spirit period, and within a few more years of worldly life we even forget the question.  

But on rare occasions we get reminded of that latent potential to create and progress instead of just react and flinch.  An inspirational leader or a natural wonder or the example of a child may for a moment distract us from our fear and prejudices.  

Such moments can be held only with courage.  Such moments, if held and remembered, elevate the individual, and in the aggregate, elevate the nation, to fulfilling the grand human potential.

Most “leaders” get and keep their jobs by assiduously avoiding such moments.  Fear and prejudice are much easier sells.  Most leaders seek job security by appealing to that which would leave us mired in the rubble of our gut- reactions and insecurity.  

We can do better though.  Listen to that spark of humanity within you that does not fear creativity and progress and change, in other words that human spark that does not fear life.  Hope for a leader that will inspire and feed that spark, but even in the lack of such rare leaders, nurture it within your own heart and in your children.  Do not let the momentary inevitable political tides of fear and anger anchor your spirit.  Be the exception, and by being the exception add your spark to the combined potential of the human spirit that will someday rekindle the flame of progress that liberates from fear and prejudice and scowls of retribution, progress that frees us to hope and help and courageously smile.

Copyright 2017 Don Ray
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