We have reached a crossroads. We are standing on the corner wondering which direction to turn. There is traffic whizzing by. The traffic lights are out, not even blinking. Suddenly, a truck smashes into a sedan, and both drivers are left unharmed but dazed and confused as traffic continues to move quickly around the delay. We stand there and post the traffic incident to the news wire from our smartphone. We call the police, but they will be unable to respond for another hour or two due to other accidents around the city. We stand there. We are confused. We are cold and lonely. We page through our smartphone and think about leaning into that familiar distraction. But we don't want to look away this time. We decide for some reason that this time, we will look at the car wreck. Stare our issue square in the face. The times are changing. We are changing.
For the written history of mankind we have believed that forward progress and increased speed and complexity will make the world a better place. It is clear that advancements in technology, science and interdependence of systems has made life easier for many of us. But at what cost? We each lead terribly busy lives. We move quickly from one thing to the next, fulfilling obligations, taking care of business, making sure the children are cared for in one way or another. The holidays become an especially busy time, trying to cram all the buying, eating and drinking we can possibly handle into our already busting-at-the-seams lifestyle. On a larger scale, our educational system is not providing the education required for the jobs our companies are creating. Our youth are not able to find jobs easily, or are unwilling to take jobs they feel are below their stature. Experienced personnel are being replaced by entry level workers for reasons of cost alone, disenfranchising the companies of valuable resources. The political system is too busy with infighting to get necessary, important and beneficial tasks accomplished.
The truth is, we are running out of time. We can't squeeze any more "life" into our days. We are in such a rush, that we have begun to disregard other people. People who we feel are in our way or trying to slow us down. We want exactly what we want, when we want it. But our days are so full, that we rarely have time to get exactly what we want. We almost don't even know what we want any more. What do we want? If we are honest, are we pleased with all the things we have put into our days? That is a question we each need to ask ourselves. If we are not pleased, we need to change. Forward progress, increased speed and interconnected complexity are only alleviating the symptoms of our core problem. We need more time.
The good news is we can get more time. We can take more time. We can minimize our schedules and take the time we need to do the things we want. We can re-prioritize the way we live to include enough time so that we are not always rushing. Not disregarding other people in order to get to the next thing.
There is another force that we have at our disposal that can combine with time to fix our predicament. It is our most precious resource. Thankfully, it is a sustainable resource, and forever renewable. It is what keeps the engines of our hearts cranking, what makes faith, hope and progress possible. This unending force is simple, and we all have plenty of it. The force is love, and contrary to popular belief, love won't run out, it only changes. The love we have for our family doesn't have to stop at our front doors. We can love our neighbors with as much fervor as we love our children, just in a different way. Love has no hierarchical structure. Either we love someone or something, or we don't. There is no need to compare how much we love one another.
We have created a system that rewards individuality. Our uniqueness is an important part of who we are. Each individual has an amazing capacity for nuance and differentiation. But along with all our differences and diversity, we are all the same. We all want the same things. We may have covered up our similarities with individualism, but at the center of our being we all want the same things. We all want to be happy. We all want things to be easy. We all want to be whole and love those around us.
We no longer need to be in such a hurry to get things done. What is meant to be done, will be done, and the rest doesn't matter yet. Take time to enjoy other's company. Strike up a conversation while in the check out lines. Chat with a stranger while taking a walk in the park.
To each of the congressmen and women, to the President and all the White House staff, to all three branches of the government, to the 1% and the 99%, to those disenfranchised by the system, and those who thrive in this country, to foreign aliens who have made America their home, whether permanently or temporarily, to EVERYONE who collects a paycheck with the words "Tax" or "In God We Trust" written on the pay stub, we want to try something different for a change this holiday season. Here are some ways we can make a difference.
Give a monetary gift to everyone before the holidays. Issue a check or wire money to everyone in America. If necessary, call back government subsidies or loans to current or former Fortune 500 companies in order to accomplish this in a timely manner. Undocumented workers can be paid from company profits. The money can be used by individuals to pay the bills, or hopefully just to get that great Christmas gift or dinner or experience that may not have been purchased without help.
No scare tactics are necessary to get the buyers in the stores this holiday season. With all this pre-holiday gift money floating around, retailers can rest assured that their books will balance without having to make people feel like they won't get a good deal if they don't knock somebody else over on the morning of Black Friday. Starting at 00:01 on Black Friday, all items would be priced and supplied so that the prices are as low as possible, while still covering costs and helping the companies get into the black. The prices would stay low and rise incrementally back to their standard prices as supply and demand dictate. A Black Month instead of a Black Day.
Unfortunately the government shut down for a decent period of time this year. Maybe we should follow suit and close all the businesses between Christmas and New Year's. Or at least make work voluntary, and base the work schedule on those who actually do want to work during the holiday week.
Let's have that holiday week be a week of positive influence for everyone. Let's show only positive movies and stories on all the stations. The programming can be pre-formatted so the staff and engineers don't even have to be there. Our news can be devastating in it's coverage of all the negative things that are going on. Let's read that important but negative news like a monotone telegraph wire every ten minutes, without video, and focus instead on the positive changes we are making as a nation.
We find ourselves still standing at the crossroads. The traffic is whizzing by the accident and no one has come to help. We decide it is time for action. We walk over and make sure all the people are alright. They are fine and begin to exchange insurance information, while waiting for a tow truck.We look down and see a whistle around our neck. In our hand is a flashlight. We look up at the traffic light and see that it is still off. The traffic is going wild around us.
What will we do?
What can we do?
We can take our time and love and step into that intersection and start directing traffic. We can start showing the way for all the busy people who can't seem to slow down. Start showing everyone that there can be a new way that is different, that things are changing. That we are changing.
Time is on our side. We have all the time in the world to become the people we are meant to be. We just need to take it. Love is in our hearts. We have an immense capacity for love that we haven't yet tapped into. We have all the love we need, we just have to give it.
To modify what one of our wonderful songwriters wrote, : "In the caverns of tomorrow with just the flashlights of our love, we must shine, we must shine, we must shine."
Let us shine. Let us love. Let's take our time and let us, the people, come back to work for you, America.
