Fifteen years ago, Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit wrote a book about "An Army of Davids: How Markets and Technology Empower Ordinary People to Beat Big Media, Big Government, and Other Goliaths". And for a while that seemed to be the shift taking place, until Big Media, Government and Other Goliaths woke to the possibilities of becoming more empowered themselves; and with a Fee Fi Foe Fum they became champions at forming a club and wielding it to their advantage.
Due to the fact that I grew up familiar with the story of David (as a child, I had to memorize the list of of all the kings of Israel and Judah) along with his backstory, I still have a tendency to believe heart is what matters most. It's what Yahweh saw in the young boy shepherd from the get go, even though a later wave of passion would lead that shepherd astray.
As the story goes, "The time had come for Samuel to go to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem to anoint Israel’s next king. As Samuel looked at Jesse’s oldest son, Eliab, Samuel was impressed with what he saw. “Surely, this is the man the Lord wants me to anoint,” said the prophet.
But God told Samuel, “Don’t look at his appearance or how tall he is, because I have rejected him. God does not see as humans see. Humans look at outward appearances, but the LORD looks into the heart”
Does heart, followed by clear vision, a sense of center and the humility as well as the faith and confidence that comes from knowing ones place in the bigger picture, still have the potential to make a huge difference?
This week I came upon this: "Being present invites us to set aside judgment yet still retain discernment, to set aside sympathy yet hold empathy, to set aside power yet be responsible for influence. It invites us to bring head, heart and body into this moment."
Retain discernment
Hold empathy
Be responsible for influence.
Is it possible these are some of the improbable stones still available for use against giants?
3 comments:
Something to keep in mind.
3 million people in Brazil turned out to protest a stolen election in which the very popular president has noted looks a lot like ours (Idiot even bragged how he helped throw said election; I'm wondering when he's going to shoot off his mouth one time too many). A half million turned out in Mexico to protest new voting rules. And then, of course, there was Canada last year.
The Davos crowd (some superannuated Nazis and a lot of old and middle-aged Commies) appear to be pulling the strings and the world is beginning to show its displeasure. A lot of places have finally gotten to the point where life is finally good for the average working stiff and the Slob is preaching how people have to start eating bugs and living in tiny houses so their betters can live in barbaric splendor. Only one Indian tribe in North America ate bugs, the Western Shoshone or Diggers, and were generally looked down on by everybody else. And only one group of people lived in quarters like those tiny houses - slaves; Roman slaves.
Our betters may have gotten away with such things back in the days when Chuck Heston started getting on Yul Brynner's nerves, but it doesn't appear to be in the cards this time. If history is any guide, there will be an assassination or a massacre and things will get nasty in a hurry.
YMMV
It's also my sense a natural disaster, or another major human event (individual yet group engaging like an assassination or the finessed GFloyd event, or an act of egregious international overreach) will tip the scales once again.
In the meantime, what can individuals do beside cower, mourn and wait in anxiety or hold on to threads of hope?
They can be looking for and picking up the stones mentioned. Focusing on a commitment to integrity, autonomy, and responsibility, holding onto a faith in something bigger than themselves, and employing discernment, empathy, and whatever influence they have (small or large) to remain present rather than checked out and waiting for the next roll of the dice to take place.
At least that's what I'm aiming for, and what helps me move out of overwhelm. I've been painting and journaling more again, and that helps too.
Twitter reparation
https://www.flickr.com/photos/194775987@N02/52513160373/in/dateposted-public/
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