Me vs We

  "Life In A Blender: the life and times of J.Q. Public", title of your autobiography? A friend said, "I have spent my life pursuing the American Dream and it's turning out to be a nightmare. I must be number one at everything. At the same time I must please everyone. I jumped head first into the vat of life, only to find out it was a blender."

  To illustrate he shared this office fax with me: "Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows that it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows that it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle: WHEN THE SUN COMES UP YOU HAD BETTER BE RUNNING". At first it sounds funny, but after a reflection it is a sad commentary on much of our society.

  Have some of us grown so far away from our original roots of caring for one another? Is "We The People" only for some and "Every Man For Himself" others? My faith advocates that a true believer is one who serves humanity and leaves judgement of it to God. This social compulsion for being number one is anti "We The People" and any religion known to this writer.

  Some expect to leap tall buildings, stop locomotives, be all things to all people and live a saintly life. In school all A's are a must. In competition, number one is god. In politics, being President seems to be the only label for success. In business and religion, being C.E.O. or Pastor of the largest, fastest and most progressive company or church is mandated. Nothing less seems to be acceptable.

  For a large group of citizens individualism is far more important than the team. Me vs We, and their particular little team or group is far more important than the whole of society. Their "Golden Rule" seems to be "Do unto others before they do it to you". When a religion is a highly individualized one, that elevates a person above anyone else, it is destructive to our society. In it Life does seem to be in a blender. Peace of mind is a distant memory. This runs against the grain of all basic faiths.

  What to do about the situation? It isn't necessary to be either a gazelle or a lion. Why not be a goose? The geese can teach us a lot about team work and caring for one another." Next time you see geese flying in formation, you'll do well to remember why they choose to fly in 'teams':
    1. As each bird flaps its wings it creates uplift for the bird behind. By flying as a team ('V'), the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if flying alone. (Teams sharing a common direction and sense of esprit de corps will get to their destination quicker, and easier - they may even go further too!)
    2. When a goose falls out of formation or 'goes it alone', it immediately feels drag and resistance and gets back into the team to take advantage of 'uplift' from other team members. (If we are as smart as the goose, we'll head in the same direction as the rest of the team).
    3. When the team leader gets tired, he/she rotates back and another goose flies point. (Remember, leaders get tired too; teams can share the load of setting the pace - even the leadership).
    4. The geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up the speed. (When you honk, are you honking for support?)
    5. When a goose gets sick or wounded, two geese fall out of formation and follow it down to help protect the fellow 'team' member. They stay until the goose either dies or flies and then catch up or join another team. (We all should show the same consideration for other team members - it's called esprit de corps)."- Atheneum Learning Corporation

  Life is not a blender. For many it is a parfait. The people of God jump into the vat of life and find something perfect and wonderful, layers upon layers of persons and groups caring about others more than themselves. Where the last shall be first and the first shall be last. And if you can't get up running someone will stay with you and help.

  Maybe John F. Kennedy was right, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country". Or perhaps Jesus was being prophetic for today when he said, "Do unto others as you would have them do to you". Whatever, my plea is for a society serving humanity and not a society of self serving humanity. And let it begin with me.