There is so much in this world that disappoints.
Experiences, gifts, and even people often fail to live up to our expectations. As if our individual experience wasn’t enough, it seems every news story seeks to erode any frail remaining hope we had left in greater humanity. Bearing witness to such a multitude of errors and evil has morphed into a society of cynics, ever wary and highly critical.
This response, evolved to protect us, unfortunately also carries with it separation and despondence. Are we doomed to this fate, or can we elect for an alternate course? Solomon addresses this topic in Proverbs 29:
“A gang of cynics can upset a whole city;
a group of sages can calm everyone down.”
The significance of Solomon’s insight lay in the choice between cynic and sage, and in the latent power he ascribes us.
We certainly are surrounded by cynics. And while they may well be justified in some of their criticisms, just pointing out problems doesn’t get us to a better place. What we truly require are people who not only identify problems but provide legitimate, actionable solutions. This, in my mind, is the sage Solomon points to.
Furthermore, mere gangs and groups in this Proverb possess the capability to affect a multitude of people. We can infer then that our own impact is also significant, despite the narrative we cynically accept that no one person can have much affect (see low voter turnout). We have errantly allowed our significance to be hijacked and relegated ourselves to a lesser role. We need not surrender our influence so easily, for the world needs good people making positive impacts, and as Solomon points out, together we can calm everyone down.
The world today could use a dose of calm and we can be the source. Let us model this sage behavior and in doing so become sages ourselves.