Ever been hit in the face by a brick?
I have. Earlier this year when I realized I was just one year from 40. Ugh. Is it possible? I read recently that 40 is the young person’s “old” and the old person’s “young”.
Think about that for a minute…Sigh. OK that’s enough!
Seriously, if you are in my age group, read it for sure! Great piece by Steven Graves.
Reality bricks seem to be common place around me recently. Another hit me square in the face just last month.
Most recent brick to the face…
I took a week long trip with four of my kids to an academic/dramatic/musical competition in Indiana. Had an amazing time.
Dad brag alert!!! My kids are uber talented and it is awesome to see their hard work rewarded. They brought home a ton of awards and did extremely well. Awesome job, guys!!! Your dad is SUPER proud of you!! 🙂
Even more important than the medals and accolades, they came away with a ton of life lessons that will probably be worth more in the long run than faux gold doubloons attached to the cheap sweat shop ribbon. Just sayin…
Back to the brick…
I attended the same conventions/competitions when I was in school. I remember always coming away inspired, excited, exhausted, and ready to change the world. “Be World Changers!” we were encouraged.
This year, way more exhausted, I still left the conference inspired after again hearing the rallying cry, “Go Change the world! Be World Changers!!!”
Not really a World Changer
Then came the brick…
I realized that in the 20 years since attending as a participant, the world had changed dramatically. But not because of me. “World Changer” is not really on my resume at this point.
Not that I am a failure or have wasted my life away. Don’t get the wrong impression. “My life is good. Reeeeeally good.” I think I just expected to turn the world upside with my awesomeness…and that didn’t happen.
I thought graduating from high school was going to launch me into the stratosphere, setting the very world on fire. The world may be on fire right now, but its not because I reached adulthood and lit the fuse. (Probably has more to do with a guy whose last name rhymes with trump. But we can talk about that another time.)
World Changer, or no?
“World Changer” What does that actually mean?
Who can we say has actually changed the world? Gates? Zuckerberg? Jobs? No doubt, tech has changed our way of living in this generation. What about George Washington? Blaise Pascal? Napoleon? Gutenberg?
The greatest World Changer that I can think of was Jesus. He has sure changed my world and the lives of many individuals throughout time.
Not many of us have the chance to change the entire world. To be categorized as an actual “World Changer”. Is it even possible? To be a World Changer?
I saw a Ted Talk recently where the presenter asked that exact question. His answer, which I really liked, was “No”.
As a matter of fact, his opinion was…there is no world. Only 7 billion interpretations of what the world is. I know a little “new agey”. But it makes sense. He said, stop trying to change the entire world. It is not possible anyway. Change the world for one individual, make a positive impression on one person, better the circumstance of one human, and you have changed the world. Their world.
Change one Life…change the world
That is powerful. While I wallow in self pity for failing to reach what is probably an unattainable goal, this dude says change one life and you have accomplished your goal.
Changing the entire world is a noble desire. But, in retrospect, a pretty arrogant and narcissistic goal.
Changing the life of one individual is not nearly as glamorous and lacks the notoriety of a World Changer, but focusing on one life is certainly more attainable.
I can be Salt and Light to those around me each day. Certainly, I can help my fellow man and offer help to a hurting soul.
I am pretty sure I can do that.
But what does all of this have to do with being a Dad???
You will have to come back for the next post.
Till then…Lead on, Dads!