Be the Change You Want to See in the World

I attended another funeral this week and I feel better for it. Yes, go back and read that first sentence again. I’ll wait. I really did say that I feel better for it. That isn’t to say that I don't feel utterly terrible about my friend losing his wife and the mother of his two young daughters. I do. I can't begine to imagine the pain and suffering he is dealing with. Heaven’s gain is our community’s loss with the passing of this amazing woman. If you know who I’m referring to, you understand. But the odd thing about attending this funeral service is that I not only left the church crying but inspired to do something, anything that in some small way will fill the void of compassion and selflessness this woman’s ascent to heaven has left.

As you may recall I’m currently “in between” careers, also known as “gainfully unemployed”, “seriously searching”, and “bumming around in coffee shops”. How, you might ask yourself, can someone who is dealing with their own issues be considering ways to help others? Good question, but the answer is pretty easy. Because I can. Because I believe that I am already resolving my own challenges and I need to do more to help others. By help I don’t mean write a check either. That’s too easy. (There’s nothing wrong with donations – I donate every year to a number of charities and conservation groups. I just mean that I want to do more. You keep doing what works for you, o.k.) I am chronically optimistic (except against a flush draw with an open ended straight draw to boot) and I believe that optimism is what makes me so sure that I can do something to make a difference in someone else’s life.

Fortunately I have friends that think along the same lines as I do. I have one friend in particular, we’ll call him “The Train”, that has asked me to train for a marathon in Alaska (during the summer!) to help raise money for fighting lung cancer and giving at-risk youth something to focus on besides getting into more trouble. Despite the fact that I only run to the bathroom when I REALLY gotta go bad, I’ve tentatively agreed, but I’m sure that once we round the corner for the solar calendar and I start to see the days get longer I’ll be more excited about the idea.

The first thing I think I can do is share my optimism with my family and friends. I truly believe that Roosevelt (or at least his speech writer at the time) had it right when he said during his inauguration speech  “…the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory.” In other words, if we continue to be fearful or pessimistic then we have lost; if we focus on the positive things in our lives – our family, our friends, our sharing and caring community, then we will get past the scary things and “be the change you want to see in the world”, as Gandhi said. That’s what I want to do – be the change. Not loose change. Not spare change. Just good positive change.

I’m reluctant to lay out a 100 day plan just yet, but suffice it to say that I intend to focus on the Gilpin/Nederland community that I love. I’ll let you know just as soon as I have it figured out. I know that I’ll never fill replace the incredible energy and efforts of my friend’s wife. I doubt that anyone can. But I’m bound and determined to do something that will make a difference in at least one person’s life besides my own kids. That’s a responsibility (making a difference in my kids’ lives) that I relish above all else.

I never imagined when I woke up this morning that I’d go to a funeral service and come home feeling inspired and energized. I haven’t been sleeping a lot lately, but right now I feel like I could stay up for days working out my ideas and putting together a plan to make them real. I think the Priest who spoke at the funeral service today would be somewhat satisfied if he knew that his homely, his candid remarks, touched me so powerfully. I think he’d be more satisfied when I follow through and become the change I want to see. I’ll get to work on that.