What do we strive for?

A king, a god a president?

Good luck and by the way, my sympathy.
To be that much, for so many, isn't really human it's superhuman. I believe in people that can do this, but for most of us, we ought re-think the aspiration.

Do you really want to be king? OK, maybe out of all of those king sounds best. At least it leaves us with nice visions of personal gratification without social concern (not a very kingly king, but whatever). Keep in mind, however, that those kinds of kings tend to live short and painfully ended lives.

Do you really want to be President? If you do, right off I feel you to be unqualified. For the most part, I think that is crazy talk. Who in their right mind would want to be considered the most powerful man in the world, with the big-ass target that comes with it and the big-ass responsibility as well. All of this, and we won't pay you like a pro-ball player, or even a high-powered lawyer. So, again, until I get to know you and appreciate your truly non-personal sacrifice for what it is, I believe this aspiration attracts only power-hungry and unworthy individuals.

Do you want to be God? God forbid! I won't really go here other than to say it is both of the others on steroids, plus more! Have you ever played Sim-Earth? Hell, that is too much for me to track. Never would I want to be God (someone's personal God or the world's God, way too much of not me in that).

So, as always, I come back to George Bailey. I come back to David. I come back to personal triumph and grass roots commitments. I truly envy those that can put on a global hat and fight for the many. But I, for one, can't get beyond the few....those I know, those I love. I have said before that if saints had children, those children would resent them. They would resent being personally denied for the 'greater good'. I admire those folks, but I don't think the world has, or needs, too many of them.

We should drop the crap that tells us to be President, that tells us to be Mother Theresa, that tells us to be King, and remember to be George Bailey.

And I leave you with this:
If you look to your life for a person you admire and that influenced you immensely, chances are it will NOT be a famous person, a king or a God. Chances are it is a neighbor, a family member, a teacher, a coach.
So, what do you want to be? How and by whom do you want to be remembered?

-E