How do you measure life? Success, wealth, fame, or just how many people are attracted to them? How many stupid stunts, number-one hits, or entrepreneurial projects had to be in check in order to win the admiration of everyone? Or that copious amount of time spent on celebrities gawking at them with either adulation, or envy?
Yes, my friends: we’re used into looking at life the wrong way.
For some, “more” is the epitome of “less”. (Lucky them.) For others, “more” is there subconscious way of saying, “I want to live like that guy on MTV Cribs! Ten rooms, thirteen pools, sixteen Ferrari’s, with a balcony view of LA!” Even other define “more” as a particularly conspicuous way of saying, “I want to be a CEO at a Forbes-500 Company in Wall Street.” But some say “more”, these fools, as saying, “You’re stupid! I want to have more than you have!
Friends, lets us not be that way. Not that I consider idleness as a blessing (um, hello! It isn’t!), however; I do believe that everyone has the God-given right to be who they want to do, and do what they want to do. After all, isn’t history is only made up of people who never bartered for less and wanted more?
These men and women wanted greater things for those who were soon to follow. They wanted change: they longed to serve with nonconformists; they were driven to shine beyond the light of adversity. The things these heroes set foot waved many emotions throughout the world- Old World, Far World, and New. North, south, east, west, passion followed everywhere. And this has happened through all of our days.
(I bet you’re thinking of a hero right now, eh?)
Alas, finding bravery hasn’t been so lucky these days. Society wont’ allow it. A lo suyo vino, y los suyos no le recibieron. We see the same things every day: hungry kids in Africa, overcrowded schools in India, outraged protesters in America, deranged killers everywhere. Schools don’t teach, churches don’t preach, families don’t show manners. Politics are dirty, waters are murky, and crime-I won’t even go there…
And the worst part of it all: it seems like we’re not doing enough to actually change our world. Even worse: we are not-and I repeat, NOT- striving as a society for more.
Why can’t we feel outraged about or current place? Why do we quiver at the fact that God made us- believe it or not- to eat, drink, and enjoy the fruits of our labor? Who is man, to be made greater? Even Jesus showed anger- He knocked a few tables in His own temple! Man has the capacity to strive for more. It starts by closure: desire of worship, something new, stirring up new passions that evolve and infect others who want a change in their lives. Above all pain, above the fire, over the wind and the storm, tested and tried, man bears the marking of resilience.
See? Man can’t live on bread alone.
Our value as human beings is not defined by how many people one man can persuade, our how many lives a woman has saved, or how many money do CEO’s make or donate-or even spend on the side. It is defined by those imperfections we see in life: now how much we have –or why-, but how do we make up with them.
Like crossing someone across the street when I’m feeling angry.
Or cheering somebody up when I’m feeling sad.
Or standing up and fighting back when I don’t want to.
It’s about living in the light, even though I am constantly surrounded by darkness.
We were made to be in full light. But by our own foolish actions –we all know what those mean-, darkness seems to win it all. It attempts to blind us, laugh at us, smirk at us, enticing humanity to gain its league. We don’t have to-but we have to make a choice…