How do we change the world? This question is both inspirational and haunting. Where did this impulse originate? Why do we feel the world must change... that it has to change? Given the insurmountable challenge, many resign such an endeavor to hopes and dreams rather than intentional actions on their part. Some graduate to a notion of internal change, seeking to change the world through first changing their own character. Yet, this may too be found to be as insurmountable as well, given our inclination to retreat into self gratification, cognitive dissonance, and cynicism for the state of society.
But let us imagine the alternative. Let us imagine the world truly changed. What would it look like? Well, that would depend on who did the changing. What if evangelical Christianity had its way? What if the world bowed down to a global doctrine? Would this be ideal? Would this be a good thing? (Did you just shudder a little bit?) What if secular humanism had its way? What if all organized spirituality was met with ridicule, or at least pure irrelevance?
Let's look past the metaphysical question for a moment. What if our particular political party became unchallenged. Would our political ideologies usher in an endless utopia at last now that those ignorant buffoons from the opposing parties have been chased from public office? What about racial supremacy? What if those in favor of racial cleansing purged the earth of inferior people groups?
When you think about changing the world, I assume you most likely have something different in mind than the examples given above, but taken to the extreme your own idealized world would most likely be filled with several flaws nonetheless. There would inevitably be gaps in your own reasoning only visible to those who awkwardly have a different idealized view of society than yours. To allow collaboration in building this perfect world would mean your own view was lacking something.
But again, why do we feel so compelled to change the world? It's simple really. It's because we're in it. We want to feel like this world needs us. If we live all the days of our life and this world keeps right on spinning without noticing us, did we really matter? If we could not contribute, stand out, meaning something in the vast scheme of things, did we ever really belong? We all seek to leave our mark. We not only want the world to be a better place; we want it to know we were the ones who made it that way.
After discovering we're not exactly the next Elvis, Tesla, Einstein, or Jesus, we invest in others to do our noble bidding. We'll elect our own world changers. It becomes a team effort. As long as our side wins, that's all that matters. We're Alabama. They're Notre Dame. We crushed them without ever learning how to throw a football. Aren't we so badass? The world will remember our name now.
We lie to ourselves about this business of changing things. We tell ourselves the world will never change. Every moment of every day, the world is changing. We are all playing roles no others could ever play. We kid ourselves that the world must reach a moment of perfection in our lifetimes, a time when we will have no need for further progress. This moment, right now, is where we must leave our mark. This monumental change happening all around us is disguised in your children's refrigerator paintings, in a comforted stranger, in compassion before anger, and an unnumbered acts of kindness you have very real power to show.
Do not despair that the whole world does not yet know your name. You have the power to create a new world each day, always more magnificent than the one before.
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