Good & Bad

​Good and Bad
I am looking at a book at the moment that is totally blowing me away. It is about a guy who was successful who chose to move back into his disadvantaged community.  Someone in the community said there were only two types of people there.  Those who had no place else to go, and those who would rather be nowhere else.  So often the goal of many was to gain success and leave.
That adds weight to a little theory of mine.  A vacuum will always be filled.  When good people leave the vacuum is filled.  Instead of making a place better, when good people leave it is made worse.
I am a great adherent to influence.  In any situation there is an opportunity for good to spread it’s influence or for bad.  Good people leaving gives opportunity for bad to have its way. I am always encouraged by someone who makes their patch nice in the midst of ruin.
I would never pretend it is easy.  Neighbourhoods are sent into shock when bad stuff happens in their street.  That is the case anywhere.  So often something bad happens in a neighbourhood and the police cordon goes up in the midst of shock.  They may not have been the catalyst, but they are either there because they chose to be, or they have no other place to go.
I knew someone who did not have a lot but were wise with what they had.  They bought a flower plant and put it in their front garden.  They loved the plant and would sit at their dining room table and look at it each morning.  One day it was gone.  Someone had coveted it and stolen it.
My friend was devastated but they did not move.  They stayed and were an influence for good.  Bad was not allowed to win the day.  Good had a seeming set back, but that is all it was.  A seeming set back.  Not a showstopper.  Besides I do not know the full story.  Something can appear bad but work out for good.  All the evidence I have may appear otherwise, but I do not have all the evidence.
Another fella I heard about wanted to help inner city kids.  On his first attempt things went so wrong it made the papers.  He was embarrassed for sure but was not going to let that stop him.  But what had seemed bad turned out for good.  When he did reach the kids he was looking for, he was accepted as they recognised him from the paper.
Benjamin Franklin grew up in Philadelphia.  The streets were dark at night.  People did not feel safe.    Crime increased at night.  He put up a pole with a kerosene light on it in front of his house.  People felt safe in the light.  Next night one light became two.  Soon the whole neighbourhood street was bathed in light.  Good dispels bad.
I think the same for me.  I do not know what path my aspirations will take me down but one thing I have always found is that setbacks are embarrassing but if I let it they are stepping stones - not stop signs.  At the very least they can necessarily dissuade me doing that again.
There seems to be so much happening for everyone at the moment that makes us want to leave.  The inclination is to look inwards rather than outwards.  Yet someone who looks outwards can inspire others to find out their reason for hope. And that can have unexpectedly good consequences.