by Joshua Patterson, A.K.A. The Kronikler
It’s very common for people to discuss things that they would like to do, things they plan on doing, or things that need to be done:
The faithful employee speaks passionately of that dream vacation they never have the budget to experience.
The wise man reflections on his musings and speaks of that book he’ll write “one of these days.”
The idealist observes poverty and civil injustice, arguing for what needs to be done and how they would do it.
I can draw an example of this ongoing process of wishful thinking from my own experiences. There are tragedies, atrocities, and corrupt legal systems (such as natural disasters, mass shootings, and the education system) that vex my heart like you would not believe. To me, what’s worse than the offenses themselves are the manner in which they are addressed in some cases — when people bother to address them. There are those whose outreach only extends as far as a word of consolation voiced over a mic or typed on a smartphone; There are those who condemn the perpetrators but say little to nothing about the policies that equip them; There are those whose claims that “Nothing can be done” are a little more than echoes of hearts and minds that refuse to change.
Then there are those who have the perspective to see all of these things, yet must also have the intent to address them.
I have a colleague from my university days who found ideas to be as slim as talk. Like me, he studied the visual arts, and he’s a strong promoter of acting upon what you see. To paraphrase his words, “If you have an idea, don’t just talk about it; Get started!!” I feel that, in today’s society, where so much content is being funneled through the filter of 140 characters or less (or a picture worth 1000 words too many), we’re susceptible to a construed perception of progress. If it’s not revolutionary or a cultural icon in a matter of a month — sometimes a bit less — we’re tempted to question its relevance and impact. However, we can’t make the mistake of forgetting that greatness is something that comes in incremental steps.
According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, action can be defined as “the accomplishment of a thing usually over a period of time, in stages, or with the [possibility] of repetition.” Now think about this for a second; If the dream(s) we envision must be placed in the field of our mind’s eye time and again, why do we hesitate at this same consistency when prompted to apply the energy that fuels our aspirations? The diligent employee must be as faithful to a financial plan as s/he is to the job; The wise man must explore the impact his published knowledge has on the world around him; The idealist must convert disappointment over society’s maladies into a determination to turn the tide in humanity’s favor.
There are plenty of conspiracy theorists, political skeptics, etc. who talk a lot of noise about how and why our votes don’t matter. They claim that the voice of the people is irrelevant and can have no substantial impact upon the complexion of this nation. I respect the opinions of these nay-sayers, but can’t help but invite them to take a look at some of the colors we see on today’s governmental platforms; Many of them, during a certain era in American history, did not have a right to vote. If we can fight for our privilege, we can fight for our progress as well.
Joshua Patterson is a two-time author, speaker, and visual artist who is devoted to making a lasting impact upon the world through the power of the pen. You can find his acclaimed works, Thinking Words, Volume One and Anointed Archives, Volume One on Amazon and Kindle.