My thoughts, as recorded in this daily blog, are quite often inspired by the words I read. Sometimes, however, it is an image that inspires me, and the image above, printed in the "Readers Respond" section of The San Francisco Chronicle on Friday, January 3, 2020, surprised me with its power. This image speaks to me.
I think (please ask yourself) that this image probably speaks to us all.
As I assume most must know, the words in the image above refer to a saying of Hillel the Elder:
If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, who am I? If not now, when?
It is our burden, and our glory, that we have the power, always, to act. It is the gift of human freedom that lets us decide, at any moment, to do something that is surprising, even to ourselves, and to create some new reality in the world, something never seen, or even thought of, before.
Would that I might never forget this. Ojalá! Let me never forget to be inspired by this truth.
You know the chant, I'm sure:
First Shout: What do we want?
Crowd Response: Freedom, Justice, Compassion, Peace.... (There is a one-word answer, as we do this chant, but the list of possible responses is extensive. We want to make our dreams come true).
Second Shout: When do we want it?
Crowd Response: Now!
The moving typewriter, having writ, has stopped. It has stopped right where you see it stopped.
If not now, when?
Image Credit:
https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/letterstoeditor/article/Letters-to-the-Editor-Readers-want-to-retire-14944109.php#
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