Unveiling the Light

Ever get tired of state and national politics along with other world events? It seems like politics and world events are a priority for many and, judging from the comments in the 49er and letters to the editor, they elicit a great deal of anger and use up lots of energy from many Ridge residents. The problem is that these two subjects can take up so much of our energy and become our focus when, in reality, we have little short term influence over them.

I am not saying that we have no say. We have the power of the vote and public opinion polls are widely used by our politicians. But from the perspective of an individual’s unique viewpoint, the ability to change national or world events is minimal. It is only as a group that we can really make a difference. Over the very long term our personal insights may be the start of a larger wave of opinion that could make a difference but on a day to day basis we are spending a lot of our energy without foreseeable results. This can be frustrating and irritating. It does not have to be this way!

Jesus taught us to look first within ourselves before we looked to make change in others. We cannot hope to make the world peaceful and just if our own lives are not peaceful and just. Otherwise we are just another person seeking to bend the will of others to our own liking. This lesson can be brought home in how we conduct our lives and the priorities we hold. It applies not only to the individual person but also to the individual community. Are we applying our energy and attention to things beyond our control while we neglect those these we can directly affect?

First, as individuals we can turn to our own life and to those we affect the most. Are we spending enough time with our spouse, children, parents, or friends? Do we bewail the national debt while we continue to mount up expensive credit card bills? Do we moan about the next generation of young people while not spending time with our own children? Do we wonder why there is no peace in the Middle East while we feud with our neighbors or continue to not speak with some family or ex-family members?

We also can look to our community instead of the nation or world at large. Instead of applying energy and getting angry over large events which we can only read about; why not do something and make a difference right here in Paradise, Magalia, or other Ridge communities? We have poverty here. We have neglect here. There are many, right here in our community, that could use our help. How much better would it be if we redirected our attention to family and local community? Not only would we be more effective but we would see the results of our efforts and find hope in those results.

There are many in this community trying to make it better. Government agencies, charitable organizations, and churches help provide groceries for needy families, provide meals for the hungry, visit home bound seniors; they help families get through short term crisis needs, and work to enhance the lives of our youth. My own parish is very involved in outreach programs to the community as are many others. Unfortunately we all have one major constraint. We need people, volunteers to stretch our dollars and extend our work to those in need. My parish has over 250 people active in various ministries but we could use a lot more. Continually a lack of volunteers constrains our actions and the actions of many organizations.

There is a need. Being a retirement community, we have many seniors and not a few disabled who are no longer able to drive themselves and are dependent on others for shopping and other services. Many live alone and are seldom checked on. If the fire everyone fears ever comes, do we have any idea as to how many seniors and others are home bound without transportation? Do we have any plans and the means to get them out?

The Ridge is not a convenient place to be a young person. We have few sidewalks, not many places for teens to hang out and not enough organized and supervised programs to keep them busy. Recent hearings at the City Council have revealed how dangerous it can be to walk or ride a bike in Paradise. What if you were a teen and wanted to travel from Magalia to Paradise? Without bike lanes this can be a dangerous ride and yet there is even less for youth in Magalia than there is in Paradise.

There are other areas that need our attention but all of them need one thing most of all … you! With volunteers to organize, plan, work and supervise events; a great deal becomes possible. Without you, ideas to help individuals or the community remain just that … ideas. What we need is involvement and action. We need committed volunteers. That means making a long term commitment of so many hours each day or week and sticking with that commitment. Such commitment allows programs to mature, take hold, and become effective. It can’t be a matter of, “I’ll come when I can make it.� It has to be, “Yes, I will be there every time for this many hours or on these days for this much time and you can depend on that!�

Changing the world starts with our own self and then our own community. Instead of crying about injustice we can make life better right here, in our families and in our community. In doing so, we also make our own life better. Life becomes manageable when we are part of the solution. What once seemed hopeless seems full of potential when we see the results of our efforts. Lives once filled with anger or emptiness become filled with love and meaning. We find that we have purpose!

This Ridge community needs you. Many organizations have programs you can become involved in. Many, especially the various churches, also provide a small community in which you can be accepted and within which you are supported and empowered to improve your personal and family life as well. When we begin with ourselves and then band together with neighbors, we become a force that is effective in the world in which we live. National and world events may still draw our attention but, as we are working on the solutions right here, we may find we are less distressed by them. Life becomes good again!

Don’t think or consider getting involved and then fall back into inactivity. As the advertisement says, “Just do it!� You may be surprised at the rewards.