"Focus"
"The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives."
--William James
"Revolution begins with the self, in the self."
--Toni Cade Bambara
"A Time to Kill", directed by Joel Schumacher, fell into theaters in 1996. But it was not until recently I sat down with this film. I was unprepared for the film's opening as my eyes welled with tears. After the angst settled, I inched forward in my chair, fixated with the upcoming scenes. Carl Lee Hailey, in anguish over the rape of his daughter, waits in the side door of the courtroom. Without notice, he rushes down the hall, killing the men responsible, dropping his gun and returning to the refuge of his home. Moments later, he is escorted to jail to face murder charges. Attorney Jake Brigance decides to defend Hailey's actions and show his behavior is justified. What follows in his quest for justice is the resurgence of the local Ku Klux Klan chapter, violence, betrayal, tears, and hits on his life. As the film turns toward closing, Jake's home is in ashes. His dog Max is nowhere to be found and his colleague Harry Rex is asking him to drop the case before he dies. Turning his head down and then looking up with soot on his face and red in his eyes, Jake replies, "No, I can't. I won't. I'm not going to quit. I quit now and all this is for nothing." Jake looks to his left and a faint bark rises in the brush. And Max bursts forth to find Jake smiling, more determined than ever.
I am discovering revolutions take time. While a handful are brief (military coups), the majority fan out over years, perhaps decades. For instance, the Industrial Revolution spanned much of the 18th century. The Civil Rights Revolution spans 1954-1968, but even now, upholding equality is still a subject of discussion and clarification, debate and division. And the Information Revolution, underscored with the World Wide Web, continues to surprise. Information available to everyone with a personal computer and access to this "highway" is truly staggering. In fact, the problem is too much information; sifting through knowledge is daunting. As revolutions evolve over time, calm resolve is needed. With this in mind, study this definition of revolution: choosing to stay the course at all times. Shifty leaders cannot facilitate revolutions. They look to the next idea or cause and tend to fall away at the first signs of conflict, resistance, boredom.
Resolve is the natural extension of revolution. And leaders who understand this principle stay focused when hope is tested, when odds seem insurmountable. It is imperative to look for the guidance of these men and women. George Washington, Lincoln and Roosevelt come to mind, as does Martin Luther King Jr. and Jesus. Each understand the larger picture and grasp what is necessary to bring it from thought to reality. In fact, husband and wife affirm the aforementioned statement in the wedding ceremony. Resolve is vital to solid marriage. But unfortunately, many spouses choose otherwise, and thus the divorce rate continues to hold at 50%. And knowing people who have parted ways, fear pricks my spirit from time to time as I ponder the intensity of the marriage commitment. But I then hearken to pop culture and the wisdom of Wilson Wilson on "Home Improvement". It is rare to find an episode in which Tim heads to the fence to seek advice from his kind neighbor. I recall Tim once asking Wilson (or should I say Wilson?) why men and women stay together. After chatting, Tim realized as he began conversing with his wife Jill that the marriage vow between spouses is renewed each day with these words, spoken or unspoken: "I choose you." Revolution is choosing to stay the course.
King Solomon writes in the book of ancient wisdom, the Proverbs, "In his heart a man plans his course..." I also know that in life, exercising resolve is noble. From time to time, I flip through the channels in the afternoon and stumble on the Maury Povich show. I don't know if this subject is simply good for ratings, but the show headline always seems to read, "Who is the father?" or "I will find the father" or "Are you the father"? Amidst the censored obscenities, a mother is trying to determine who is connected by blood to her young children by paternity tests. And while the results are outlandish with cheers from innocent men and inconsolable mothers, some fathers choose to stay and raise the children. Though this can be accomplished off national airwaves, the decision is noble nonetheless. Turn your eyes to Iraq for a moment. While President Bush is continually criticized, no one can deny his resolve to succeed in this country currently at a tipping point. Of course, "success" will be unique to define and will take many years. Even his speeches have been peppered with the phrase "stay the course".
In "The Patriot" (2000), directed by Roland Emmerich, a vivid scene reveals Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) in shock and grief over the death of his son Gabriel. His good friend Harry Burwell (Chris Cooper) shares some simple advice: "Stay the course." Still unsure, Martin discovers the flag his son continually worked on during the course of the war, stitched together at last. He chooses to rejoin the militia and walk side by side with his men to victory over the Redcoats. Revolutions do not begin in mass numbers. When one looks to another to make the first move, they may or may not take action. But when I stop to think, I recognize this simple truth: I can act with or without others. This bold step can be frightening, but the underlying hope is others will decide to follow, each having made the choice for himself or herself. And the collection of the masses brings sweeping change.
It is important to remember that diligence in a specific course of action can be misguided from time to time. I recall working my first job for six years, from late high school into college. Seniority provided flexible scheduling and I enjoyed the people I worked with. But as I reflected on graduation, I noticed complacency masked itself as comfort. I needed fresh change, for staying the course would lead me into a career I did not envision myself in. Accordingly, I drew up a resignation letter and inhaled the air of bold change. This is also why I write. While I know my beliefs are grounded, I wish to explore spiritual formation in new ways, unwilling to accept practice and principle simply for the sake of tradition. This is bold, but in my humble belief, necessary to growth in character and wisdom. Change is truly a growth opportunity, a phrase my colleagues at work like to use. Arnold Bennett writes, "Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts."
I welcome the revolutions that make life better; whether they are simply gadgets that create additional convenience or laziness is another story. I'm referring to ideas that begin as whispers and slowly gain traction. Word begins to spread further and further. Microcredit is a revolution. Buddhist monks marching peacefully in Myanmar is a revolution. Equality under the law is a revolution. Speaking your mind freely is a revolution. Writing your thoughts publicly is a revolution. Selfless sacrifice is a revolution. Eliminating AIDS in Africa is a revolution. A revolution beats in the heart, sparks the mind and puts the hands in motion. Revolutionaries stay focused even when hope of accomplishment dwindles, even when others decide to drop out. They see the vision they have cast and continually paint the canvas of what can be, the hope of a brighter next day, the hope of smile words cannot express, the hope a love beyond the scope of man will transcend time and space to reside in reality. Love in the moment, love for a lifetime, is indeed the revolution.
