Today marks the end of my 48th year of living.
Wow – that’s kinda
depressing. Let’s try that again:
Today marks the start of my 49th year on this
Earth.
That sounds like I’m
from another planet. I’m not. I promise.
One last try:
Today’s my birthday. I’m 48 years old.
OK. To the point.
It’ll work.
In keeping with tradition that accompanies annual milestones
– New Year’s Day, wedding anniversary, graduation day, tax day (the saddest of
the lot), and birthdays – I think I’ll reflect on the year that just past.
So when I make an entry into my captain’s log on this last
successful trip around the sun, what should I say? What is it that most
impacted me from March 11, 2015 to March 9, 2016?
Hmm…
Well, I’ve fully entered that stage in life when reality has
unloaded the truck, unpacked its boxes, and, for all intents and purposes,
seems to have moved into its new home – 48 Walt’s Brain Place, Melancholy
Valley, USA – for good. I’m a little worried though, because on the change of
address notification my new guest is sending its friends, it lists its new home as “the
place where dreams go to die.” I thought that was in Baton Rouge. Nevertheless, I could
certainly use this development as the focus of my reflection.
Maybe later.
Given the current state of our presidential primaries, we
really don’t need any more depressing news, do we?
So, what really grabbed me and shook me during my 48th
year of existence?
I think it may be the new insight I gained about the human
spirit.
One thing I’ve learned over the last 48 years is that
learning is inherently good. But, that doesn’t mean that everything learned is
inherently good. Case in point: I’ve recently learned that revenge is a
powerful motivator. Now that may be handy to know if I wrong someone, but it’s
certainly not something to add to my repertoire. I think revenge is what’s
fueling the illogical love-fest with the current Republican front-runner for president, for instance.
The human spirit has taken many hits over the decades, often
at the hands of progressive ideologies. We are now reaping the crops that have
been sewn by fairness doctrines that destroy foundational freedoms, social handicapping
disguised as justice, purposeful erosion of the family in favor of a
power-hungry ruling class, and an overall moral decay due in large part to
political correctness. Society has turned into a reality show where decency and
integrity have been all but forgotten. Now, belligerence and incivility seem to
be accepted, even encouraged, for our highest-ranking leader. The front-runners
for President at this moment – Trump and Hillary - are indeed anomalies. But
they are products of a misguided human spirit.
On the one hand, dependency has now engulfed a large segment
of our population, subtly enslaving the human spirit. The more people get, the
more they want to continue getting it. So, many crush incentive and
self-reliance underfoot on their way to claim that to which they believe they
are entitled. They have found a leader who will not only leave the valve open
but also open it further.
On the other, revenge has gripped the villagers, which should
not be surprising. With a human spirit that has been force-fed ideals that
revolve around narcissism, revenge is the most logical response to years of
non-representation and oppressive edicts from the ruling elite. This lynch mob
has awakened, angry at its condition, ignorant of the causes, and hell-bent on
making someone pay. They have found a leader who spouts venom at anyone who
opposes or even questions him. He is someone to whom they think they can
relate, because he says what’s on their mind and promises revenge. Big picture?
Repercussions? Who cares as long as we get ‘em.
So, that’s the dark side of the human spirit that has come
to the forefront of late.
But, I’m not quite old enough to eat my dessert before my
meal, you know, just in case I kick the bucket before finishing. No, I still
like to save the best for last. Like eating all the cookie pieces first and
saving as many of the marshmallows in my morning bowl of Lucky Charms ‘til the
end. Can I get a “true dat?” Anyone?
So, even more inspirational, even more impactful than the
ludicrous political state of affairs today is the resilience, love, hope, and
forgiveness of the human spirit I witnessed over the last 365 days. I need not
look any further than my own state of South Carolina for that. In the face of
deadly and overwhelming floods, the human spirit endured and even flourished.
Determined to persevere, citizens supported each other, cared for each other,
loved each other. They rebuilt homes, businesses, lives, and relationships.
In the aftermath of unspeakable tragedy caused by pure evil,
families of victims gunned down in a church in Charleston responded with
forgiveness and love. At a time when the world was preparing for revenge and
uncontrolled fury, like that which was being seen in other areas of the
country, mothers, fathers, siblings, sons and daughters reached deep inside and
found the only way to destroy the dark – not with more darkness, but with
light. The human spirit soared with hope and exemplified all that is still good
in us. I could not have been more proud of my home.
While the world planted the seeds that sprouted a corrupt
human spirit, the virtuous version came from God. So, on both accounts – the
good and the bad – I learned that human spirit still amazes and surprises me.
Is this acceptable insight after 48 years? I don’t know. I think it might be a decent contemplation on yet another year lived with a purpose of learning
and growing.
Now, where’s the cake. I’ve earned a slice. My human spirit is hungry. Or maybe that's just my stomach.
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