The World of Grandpa Don

I Can't Change the World

We all have high ideals and want to do the high minded things, ... you know ... be more like the ideal that is represented by our religious beliefs. But, let's face it, we don't live in a perfect world ... we live in the "real world". What the pastor says in church every weekend sounds wonderful if we could live like that. You know, love every one, be kind, be just, be honest, trust, and all that stuff. But the world isn't like that and I, one little individual, can't change the world so I just have to live in it and get along with everyone else as best I can.  And in this everybody for themselves world, I have to look out for myself.

Just look around, everyone is doing it ... living that way. It's all around us on TV, radio, newspapers, magazines. Our representatives in government show us how to look out for ourselves in getting benefits for their constituents and protecting us from those 'outsiders'. We need to get the best  we can for ourselves.

Well, one thing is absolutely right. At best, we are living in a very mediocre world. The advertisers look out there and see that the average person loves trash and says, "OK if that is what they want, we have to sell it to them. Entertainers do the same. The politicos do it in spades saying "everybody else is greedy and selfish so I'll get mine too and not only that if I get some Federal money for some local project it will obviously keep them happy so my constituants will vote for me again".

So, what is driving the mediocrity? You and me! We refuse to raise the standard and so we continue to live in this "real world" of ours. What if we were to send a different signal? What if each of us stepped up a notch or two and demanded better. You know, like the preacher says in church every week. Maybe some of the people selling things ... goods, services, entertainment ... realized that there was a market for something better? What if the politician suddenly discovered that people wanted justice and fairness for everyone and were not just looking out for their own ... whatever. The word "constituent" means a person who authorizes another to act in his or her behalf. They do, in a sense, act on our behalf, at least they think so, when they give us what we seem to want, or at least tolerate.

The world will not become a better place from the top down. It must start at the roots ... with you and me. It is actually us ordinary guys who control what we will get just in the way we live and what we demand. It turns out that no one else but you and I, ... each of us ... can change the world. If we don't do it, it just won't happen. We can't directly change anyone else but we can change ourselves and if we do, everyone else will eventually get the message. 

If you stop and think, Jesus didn't really try to reform the Scribes and Pharisees. He didn't attempt to overthrow the pagan Roman government. No, he did the same thing our religious leaders are now trying to do. Start with the little guy, you and me, and reform us. That is where it starts and we are the only ones who can do it. We will be the ones who will change the world, ... but only if we change ourselves first. The world will follow. Why? Because we are the world. When enough of us change, "they" will be saying, Look, everyone else is better. I should be like them."

So, let's discard the lie about not being able to change the world. Its our world and we can change it. We are the only ones who can.

Grandpa Don Plefka
©02/02/2010