Let\u2019s push the envelope a bit today, shall we?\u00a0 In fact, it\u2019s quite possible that today\u2019s post may be our most controversial.\u00a0 Maybe it will ruffle the most figurative feathers.\u00a0 Please know that\u2019s not my intent; ruffling feathers \u2014 regardless as to how figurative \u2014 but ruffling for the sole sake of ruffling seems a futile exercise indeed.\u00a0 My goal has always been to wisely and correctly handle words of truth.<\/p>\n
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Yet in the seemingly continual, digressing state of society \u2014 where discouraging words are too often heard and far more than deer and antelope play \u2014 big is considered better; more is always best; and the majority is irrefutably wise.<\/p>\n
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The Intramuralist does not agree.\u00a0 Big is not always better.\u00a0 More is not always best.\u00a0 And often it is the minority<\/em> which offers the most prudent message.\u00a0 Yes, the minority often possesses the greatest strength and keenest insight.\u00a0 Granted (and such is said with an undeniable, sober sigh),<\/em> 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.\u00a0 In other words, the minority often possess the greatest blessing.\u00a0 And yet, my ruffling sense is that the minority too often give that blessing away.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reflect upon the minority for a moment…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A minority marked by race, religion, gender, or geographics…<\/p>\n A minority marked by ambition, achievement, or athletic competition…<\/p>\n A minority marked by perspective, potential, or political position…<\/p>\n A minority marked by intelligence, institution, or physical impairment…<\/p>\n A minority marked by skin color, school, or social standing…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Regardless of what distinguishes the group, the minority is the smaller number \u2014 by some part lesser than half the whole.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Regardless of being \u201clesser,\u201d within that minority still, we find incredible insights, values, and places of personal and corporate growth…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Among them, perhaps?\u00a0 … humility… perseverance and pride…\u00a0 work ethic and wisdom… faith and self-awareness…\u00a0 (… did I mention humility?)<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The majority, however, is instead too often marked by an unattractive arrogance \u2014\u00a0 possessing no perceived desire nor even believed need to persevere.\u00a0 Far too often the majority even replaces faith and self-awareness with an over emphasis on self.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So what happens when minorities grow?\u00a0 … in number?\u00a0 … in power?\u00a0 … in significance?\u00a0 What happens when their numbers evolve into that bigger half of the whole?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 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…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Too often, though, I think we fall prey to simply adapting and absorbing the unattractive traits observed in many of the majority…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Humility is zapped for arrogance…\u00a0 Faith and self-awareness are replaced with that over importance of self.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Regardless of what marks one as a minority \u2014 by race, gender, or Senate standing \u2014 by not making the playoffs or by a lower GPA \u2014 regardless of what distinguishes us and places us within any lesser or bigger half of the whole \u2014 may we hold on to the humility that propelled us to persevere.\u00a0 May we hold onto the blessing.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n P.S.\u00a0 Blessing is good.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Respectfully,<\/p>\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Let\u2019s push the envelope a bit today, shall we?\u00a0 In fact, it\u2019s quite possible that today\u2019s post may be our most controversial.\u00a0 Maybe it will ruffle the most figurative feathers.\u00a0 Please know that\u2019s not my intent; ruffling feathers \u2014 regardless as to how figurative \u2014 but ruffling for the sole sake of ruffling seems a … <\/p>\n