open your mind
and
pour it all out.
together we’ll find
what
this life is all about.
shaking our heads
we’ll
sift through this mess.
tossing out the dead
and
dusting off the rest.
the heart in your chest
is
all that is real.
squirming ‘neath your breast
it
just might heal.
It’s not as broken as you once thought.
For the past couple of months, I’ve been fascinated by several things, one of which is the mysterious way that governments, ideas, and cultures gain speed and move in a direction. It’s been a strange experience to be right in the center of Kony2012, one of the fastest growing movements in human history.
The following paragraphs are my efforts to explain my thoughts. Forgive me if they seem jumbled and disconnected; this is the first time that I’ve attempted to put them down in words.
There was a particularly cold Tuesday in January that I look back on and recall when this spark of fascination was ignited. A few of my friends and I had gone to see the Hitchcock film ‘Rear Window’ at the Avalon Theater in Downtown Grand Junction, Colorado. I had never seen the film before, and neither had many of my friends. We were quite taken by it, and most of us were making mental notes to see more of his films.
As we were leaving the theater, we agreed that on a night like that, we could use a drink before heading home. I’m not much for drinking, but even I couldn’t resist the idea of a warm pub and great conversation. So we walked down the street to an Irish establishment called Naggy McGees and ordered some steak fries and a few drinks.
The setting was absolutely perfect for a great conversation, and I’ll do my best to share the bits of it that I remember with you here.
I was sitting next to a particularly thoughtful friend of mine that always asks great questions. So, in his particularly thoughtful fashion, he began asking me what I saw for myself in the future after I left Colorado.
Me: “Well, I’m not sure, but I know I’ll be applying to work for Invisible Children.”
Him: “Invisible Children? I’m familiar with a few people that work there. I lived in San Diego for a while and got to know some of them. I met a few of them on a trip to Uganda a while back. I’m not really connected with them anymore, but that’s great that you’re wanting to work there.”
Me: “Yeah, man. The organization has played a big role in my own personal development. I probably wouldn’t be here in Colorado if it weren’t for some people there at IC that encouraged and invested in me.”
Him: “That’s really interesting. I’ve been fascinated by Invisible Children and how their ideas and movements keep propelling forward and gaining momentum. It seems that no matter what happens politically and socially, there is always something there that is pushing it forward and driving it in one direction.”
Me: “Yeah, I’ve noticed that, too.”
Him: “I wonder what that is. You can see it in a lot of ways when you look for it. Just think politically for a moment. Our nation is moving in a direction politically and it seems like nobody is actually happy about it. And it hasn’t been moving that way under one president, it’s been happening for ages.”
Me: “Hmm. What do you mean?”
Him: “Well, no matter what you think politically, George W. Bush, as president, led the country in a direction, and Bill Clinton did so before him. It’s what Presidents do. They take the country in some direction. And a lot of people were really upset with Clinton, and a lot of people were really upset with George W. Bush, too. And then we meet Barack Obama, and he and his staff are politically and ideologically the antithesisof what George W. Bush is. They are different in almost every way.”
Me: “Yeah, that’s true.”
Him: “But this nation, regardless of who is leading the country keeps moving that exact same direction it was moving before he ever got there. And, honestly, I’m not sure what that direction is, or where it’s going to take us, but I can feel that we’re moving there. And there are loads and loads of people trying to stop it, slow it down, alter it’s course, but no matter what they do, they only seem to be speeding it up.”
Me: “I guess I’ve never thought about it like that.”
Him: “Like I said, I’m not sure if that direction is a bad one or a good one or if there’s anything that it’s leading to, but my question is this:How is this happening? What is going on? Is it God? Is it people that unconsciously have a desire to see the world head in a certain direction?”
Me: “Man, that’s heavy. I don’t know.”
Him: “I’ve seen it politically and I’ve seen it with Invisible Children. There’s just something- almost like a presence or an unknown force pushing behind it and moving it forward. Right when it seems like it shouldn’t work- look! They just happen to meet with the right person, get the right interview, make the right film- and they keep moving forward in that direction. It’s strange. And I don’t mean any of this in a detrimental way, I think it’s great that they’re moving forward and doing the things that they’re doing.”
Me: “I guess I’ve noticed that, too. After following their work for a few years, I’ve seen the success of their campaigns and noticed that they always seem to be at the forefront. Maybe it’s because I’m familiar with them that I see it, but I think there’s more to it than that. There’s just something different about it. I don’t think anyone can really fully explain it, but I don’t think that anyone that’s been involved with their organization can ignore it, either. It’s just a part of the work that they’re doing, it’s a part of their story, and it’s a part of the stories they tell and the way they organize movements. It’s just present.”
Him: “Yeah, I just have been thinking on that for a while and I still can’t explain it. Good luck with the application, man. I’m interested to see where you end up.”
Our discussion shifted a little bit after that, and I had a lot of steak fries to eat, so I sat for a while, trying to wrap my head around what we had just talked about. In fact, the thought resonated so deeply within me that it’s been providing an undertone to a lot of my ideas lately.
Now that I’m here and working with Invisible Children, I can definitely feel it more and more. And while I’m not sure exactly what it is, I have come to some small conclusions.
1. The community that makes up a movement always has something, usually an idea or a dream, that they can connect with and promote.
2. The community that shares that hope has to work very, very, very hard to share it with others.
3. Once the community with the idea has shared that idea, they have to work very, very, very hard to make sure the idea isn’t polluted or misconstrued. It has to be incredibly simple, basic and fundamental to the way that we work and live in order for it to gain attention. If there is any disagreement within the community about what needs to be done, the movement will break apart and fail.
4. The community must always, always work together and share ideas. If there is a lack of respect for the sharing of ideas, the chances of moving in a positive direction are slim.
5. The people in the community and in the movement, wherever they are, must always, always love each other. Deeply. Even when things get crazy and out of control, and the idea is thrust forward at a rate that nobody expected, it is the love and respect for each other within the community that will keep it from breaking apart.
As this idea that holds great hope in humanity moves forward at such an incredible pace, I have seen the world change. I have seen genuine love from strangers. I have witnessed self-sacrifice. I’ve seen lots of tears and pain, and I’ve heard the shouts of those that cannot stand to see others disrupting ‘The Way Things Have Always Been’.
The purity of Invisible Children’s ideas and the love, respect, and work ethic of it’s community (both locally in San Diego and worldwide) is pushing it to new heights. I’m incredibly thankful for the opportunity to join alongside of these people.
That’s what we are, after all. People that care about other people.
-Brady
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The Legacy High School Crew did this. I am humbled and full of joy tonight. (Taken with Instagram at Legacy High School)
