Change

​I was reading a speech and I did what I always tend to do. The speech was about a nation, but I tend to make it individual. It is my firm conviction that I can aspire to great things, but greater things happen when a number of individuals hold to the same thing. So often it seems I can hold to noble ideals, but at the first sign of trouble or opposition what I really believe comes to the fore.

What country is being talked about is inconsequential to me in the light of seeing this as an individual thing and the matter to me is bigger than a country, so I take out a country so no prejudices colour my view. To me it matters not where an idea comes from, I will hold to it if it rings true to me. I substitute “Australia” for the actual country being referred to.

“Beware how you trifle with your marvellous inheritance…if we stumble and fall, freedom and civilization everywhere will go down in ruin.” I do not for a moment think that if I go down, it is the end of the story for everyone. However, I do want to be a part of the answer, rather than a part of the problem. I may inhabit a small corner of the world, but the world is made up of many small corners.

It seems from a number of the posts I see on Facebook that our inheritance is important to us. It seems in trying to please all the people all the time, I can end up pleasing a minority, who’s view destroys rather than build up.

I can too easily roll over and play dead when an unwanted and uncalled for fight is needed just to maintain the status quo I know. As I am fond of saying, some things matter, many things don’t.

The person quoted talks about getting caught up in matters that do not ultimately matter. I reckon I could so easily get into fights which, while important, miss the big picture. In the end they can be distractions. The cause may be worthy; the fight needed. But I need to ask myself, is it my fight? There is a good chance it is someone’s, but is it mine? It seems my answer to that determines my direction.

I have come across people who hold to a view to the exclusion of any other view. It may be understandable not to agree with another, but I do not know that it ever is understandable not to listen to another. For every strongly held view someone has, there is an equally strong view diametrically opposite held by someone else. Neighbours fall out over different views.

That does not mean I do not believe in right and wrong. I do. But even those in the right are wrong when acting from any other motive than love, and those in the wrong are wrong to tar everyone with the same brush.

“When I think of Australia first…I am thinking of what is best for the world.” I totally think anything good to be achieved starts with individuals. I need to be willing to live it rather than just talk it. When a number of us live the same thing, lasting change can happen.