Let’s push the envelope a bit today, shall we? In fact, it’s quite possible that today’s post may be our most controversial. Maybe it will ruffle the most figurative feathers. Please know that’s not my intent; ruffling feathers — regardless as to how figurative — but ruffling for the sole sake of ruffling seems a futile exercise indeed. My goal has always been to wisely and correctly handle words of truth.
Yet in the seemingly continual, digressing state of society — where discouraging words are too often heard and far more than deer and antelope play — big is considered better; more is always best; and the majority is irrefutably wise.
The Intramuralist does not agree. Big is not always better. More is not always best. And often it is the minority which offers the most prudent message. Yes, the minority often possesses the greatest strength and keenest insight. Granted (and such is said with an undeniable, sober sigh), the minority often face unfathomable, dire challenge; also true, no less, is that the existence of the challenge has the power and potential to strengthen the person and thus prompt that incredible insight. In other words, the minority often possess the greatest blessing. And yet, my ruffling sense is that the minority too often give that blessing away.
Reflect upon the minority for a moment…
A minority marked by race, religion, gender, or geographics…
A minority marked by ambition, achievement, or athletic competition…
A minority marked by perspective, potential, or political position…
A minority marked by intelligence, institution, or physical impairment…
A minority marked by skin color, school, or social standing…
Regardless of what distinguishes the group, the minority is the smaller number — by some part lesser than half the whole.
Regardless of being “lesser,” within that minority still, we find incredible insights, values, and places of personal and corporate growth…
Among them, perhaps? … humility… perseverance and pride… work ethic and wisdom… faith and self-awareness… (… did I mention humility?)
The majority, however, is instead too often marked by an unattractive arrogance — possessing no perceived desire nor even believed need to persevere. Far too often the majority even replaces faith and self-awareness with an over emphasis on self.
So what happens when minorities grow? … in number? … in power? … in significance? What happens when their numbers evolve into that bigger half of the whole?
My prudent hope would be that we/they would remember where we came from… that if we were ever once in the minority we would not forget the values learned nor the blessing gained that evolve when meeting challenges wisely…
Too often, though, I think we fall prey to simply adapting and absorbing the unattractive traits observed in many of the majority…
Humility is zapped for arrogance… Faith and self-awareness are replaced with that over importance of self.
Regardless of what marks one as a minority — by race, gender, or Senate standing — by not making the playoffs or by a lower GPA — regardless of what distinguishes us and places us within any lesser or bigger half of the whole — may we hold on to the humility that propelled us to persevere. May we hold onto the blessing.
P.S. Blessing is good.
Respectfully,
AR