Let’s be fearless as we approach the new year
As 2024 approaches, I am praying for an awakening, but I think a societal reckoning fits too.
Albert Einstein called doing (thinking) the same and expecting different results insanity. All the religious prophets asked us to listen to others and to do unto others as we would have them do to ourselves. Not long ago America was the “Shinning Light” on the hill. But we seem to be tumbling to the bottom of that hill, and that selfless light of long ago seems to be dimming at home, and for America’s status around the world.
By now everyone must see that we are at a crossroads here in America, in terms of values and image around the world. We have a choice to make, but the root of that choice seems to be unclear to most. There is a lot of tentacles that we seem to be tangled up in that blinds us to the real cause for our predicament. We seem to be set on fighting the symptoms of the cause, as usual, and we seem to be unable or unwilling to see it, to take the cause head on.
The cause, I believe, is fear. That’s one element, the other being love, that drives our human decision making. Some politicians feed us fear, and others feed us fear-mongering communications which seem to be based on what promoting fear will do for “them” (me) and not so much for “us” (we). Fear is also a big money maker! That fear leads to mistrust, polarization and bigotry, which leads to more fear, especially of unknowns like different ideas, or making changes to our lives to address the ways each of us may not be working well. Are we more comfortable with the way things are, rather than taking on the hard work and the unknowns of change?
For centuries the world’s prophets have warned us about thinking too much about “me” instead of “we.” Is today’s predicament, where we’ve created a comfortable world that in danger from catastrophic perils, because we have been too selfish and fearful? The more we fear, the more we lose control, rather than gain it. Just look at how World War II’s Axis powers convinced their followers and enablers to be silent, and complicit. Is that what we are witnessing today? There is a huge price to pay in the future for letting fear control you and giving control over to those that say they will protect you from what you fear.
Fear and selfishness also destroy a democracy. You will not make good decisions from a fearful place. Fear and selfishness is a downward spiral, like a whirlpool, that sucks into a dark state of mind. Fear and selfishness is the tool of dictators and totalitarian governments.
There is hope, if we can really believe in “we.” I like the concept of turning the “me” word (selfishness) upside down to “we” as I make decisions. We can try listening more to our neighbors; we can try to understand them; we will try not to fear them. We really aren’t, in most cases, that different.
One final thought: America was founded on the concept of “We the People” and that we are all somewhat different but the same in so many ways. And we are all in this together. We can choose to ignore the fear mongers and selfish manipulators. Let’s choose what the prophets and our Founding Fathers asked of us: to work hard together, to make things better, to be that example of goodness and justice for all, not just for some, in this country and in this world.
This new year, that’s my prayer.