Promising What We Don’t Own

I’ve just turned up the air conditioner again. The sweat from the steadily rising temperatures starts to get to me after a while and I’m not one who easily takes the heat. I suppose it’s one more mark that I’m my father’s son.

But tonight I think my unease goes beyond the temperature in my apartment. That, with some negotiation with the roommate, can go away I hope. Tonight, I’m uncomfortable with our attempts to say we’ll solve the worlds’ problems. I’m seeing those statements more and more these days. Themes of changing the world and ending particular needs are quite common. And often those who question such things are considered defeatist or lacking in hope for real change. Often those people are accused of not trying to make a real difference in the world around them. I don’t know if that’s really true.

I can’t say if that’s my problem. I think that’s for others and perhaps for my ancestors to judge. But sometimes as the night dwindles down I wonder about our implicit pride that these statements rest upon. I wonder if we’ve truly considered the great gravity of what we’re claiming or remembered the long history of people who made similar claims before victory was in hand. A great many boasts go down to the bottom of the ocean before they can make good.

Tonight I’ll continue to plan and scheme and dream for a better life for people in my city. Tonight I’ll pray to God and seek out opportunities to share that God can give lasting hope, though it’s sometimes a long road to get there. Tonight I’ll say directly that life tomorrow can be better and part of that involves action. But tonight I’ll also reign in my bragging about what I’ll accomplish tomorrow, the lives that I’ll change or the world that I will make different. After all, there’s truth in most boasting. Fully weak people never say they’re the best. But there’s a lie in there too — that humans can fully improve their own condition without recognizing the past mistakes… and I think that humans can fully improve their own condition without relying on the work of the Divine.

If I’m wrong and we accomplish great things, then no harm done. If I’m right and we accomplish great things after struggle and with the help of the Divine then so much the better.