Making A Difference, Evolution And Our Better Selves

In The Paris Riots And American Politics: Which Is The Hotter Fire?, we posited that positive participation in society is what built and grew this nation, and that we are seeing less and less of that nowadays. We also said that it is clear that the needs of the individual have trumped the needs of the community. The community owes the individual- and the individual owes nothing back. In fact, in the topsy turvey world we live in, the individual is expected to demand from society, so that he or she might be recognized or fulfilled. Mamacita wrote not too long ago that children actually believed they had the right to fame, to be recognized and singled out, simply because they wanted that.

In fact, the positive contributions to society cannot be overestimated- not so much for society, but for ourselves.

As we approach the holiday season- Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, etc., we begin to face the outward manifestation of that great inner struggle we face- balancing our spiritual, or meaningful selves and our material lives. No one is immune, really. We need to survive and even thrive. We also need to 'play above our capabilities,' to transcend above our routines and needs. As we noted in our discussion on evolution and ID, humans are the only creatures not satisfied with mere survival. We need more for ourselves, than to be fed and concern our ourselves our physical safety and with procreation. Humans are the only creatures with the desire and motivation for more.

In fact, a healthy human life requires an exquisite balance of inner turmoil (angst) and inner peace, or satisfaction.

With that angst, properly directed and focused, we are inspired to make our world a better place. With that inner peace, we can take satisfaction in the good we have done for our family and community. We are social and interdependent. We need that interaction with others to validate our own lives.

The holidays are special. Those days can motivate us to exceed ourselves and escape the material world we live in, putting as great a distance between ourselves and the daily grind as possible. We can shine and contribute mightily to making our world and those around us, a better place.

That is the easy part. With a bit of awareness and and determination, our better selves can find an outlet during the holiday season. That said, if we could find a way to find that fulfillment all year round, we might transform and elevate our everyday existence into something greater.

The question is, how do we transform ourselves into a higher consciousness? How do we elevate and lift ourselves and our community from the culture of seductions, temptations and narcissistic tendencies and greed that envelope us everyday? How do we avoid the apathy and generate the energy?

How do we become better?

Like the Nike man says, 'Just do it.'

We can excel, even exceed, simply by participating. There is an old saying, 'If you want to be loved, love somebody.' The same applies for contributing to make our world, community and ourselves, better. Just do it. Don't look for reasons, sweet or inspiring background music or any other exterior motivation. We, each of us, are better than that. We do not need a television commercial or even a religious sermon to tell us what is right. We know what is right because that is built into each and every one of us. That too, defies evolution.

We have limitations. Eating, sleeping or any other natural human activity are matters in which we have no choice. There are laws of nature that bind us all. These are the finite bonds, the 'starting line,' of our existence. It is what we do beyond that 'starting line' that will define us.

When we choose to do good, when we choose to make a difference- even on the days we don't feel like it, we leave that starting line far behind us. We reach deep into our better selves, not because we have to, but rather, because we want to. The distinction is huge. It is at that moment we confirm that we, as human beings, really are different. For some, it is evidence that we are indeed created in God's image. For others, it is evidence of the greatness of man, that we habve in us such capacity. Either way, we exceed our nature. We set for ourselves a goal, a target, that best reflects our capacities and capabilities. We may not, for example, be able to feed the world, break every bond of poverty or protect every child, but we can do our fair share, one family, person or child at a time. We escape the impediments that keep us from greatness, and in the process, make our world, community and family, all that much better. It isn't as if we need to travel halfwaqy around the world to make a difference.

Transcend the holidays and transcend the weights that keep us mired in the quicksand of apathy. Contribute. Do something, anything that will make someones life better. We don't need the holidays or pop culture to inspire us. We are better than that. We need to show our kids what greatness is, and in the process, make them aspire to something greater.