This Hammer

For the first time this week, I came to work with an inspired attitude. It had nothing to do with work or my first full week of workouts or my run at the poker tables (like I could be inspired by that pain). I wouldn't say that I had a paradigm shift really, more of a "right on" or "I should be doing that" sort of moment.

I was listening to my mp3 player and a Steve Earle song came on. This isn't really anything new, since I listen to a lot of Steve Earle music. That being said, the song "Steve's Hammer (for Pete)" came on. I really started to feel good. You see, I've been having a really tough time dealing with politics. I'm losing faith in the broken system. But then as I listened to this song I realized something important; I'm a hopeless romantic - at heart and in practice. The lyrics screamed out to me:

"One of these days I’m gonna lay this hammer down And I won’t have to drag this weight around When there ain’t no hunger And there ain’t no pain Then I won’t have to swing this thing One of these days I’m gonna lay this hammer down"

Music is so powerful, if you allow it to be powerful.

Sometimes you find direction in places you never think you will find it.

I know that it is unrealistic to believe that in my lifetime the evil that afflicts this world will be washed away. I know that it is unrealistic to believe that it will ever be washed away. HOWEVER, just because it is impossible, does that mean it is not a worthy endeavor? Do we hope against all hope, or accept mediocrity as the way of the world? Are we strong enough to stand up and say "I believe" when all those around us say "that's just the way it is, the way it has always been, and the way it will always be"?

You see I'm also a cynic (no, you don't say). Once a former boss of mine said "Save some of that cynicism for when you are an old man, at this rate you will have all your cynicism used up by 40". I like to make light of obvious and not so obvious situations, thoughts, thought processes, beliefs, theories, and the list goes on and on. Most people don't understand that cynicism is only one side of a multi sided coin. At least one other side is optimism/faith/belief/hope. In fact, I believe that the optimism fuels the cynicism, possibly defines it. How is that? Simple really. When you can see everything that is wrong, broken, or lost and still look forward and say "I believe" then you have found true strength for change or to carry on or to move to the next level (choose your semantic here).

When I was in college and even before, I had (and still have) a fascination with Don Quixote. In the classic film "The Man of La Mancha", Peter O'Toole's portrayal of Don Quixote brought this character to life in a most magical way. He believes is righting the wrongs of humanity, in adoring women and defending them and their honor, in defending the less fortunate and those who cannot defend themselves, and the list of goodness goes on and on. And he does it despite the reality of the situations around him. In the film he sings "The Impossible Dream" which is a foundation for all hopeless romantics to follow. And I quote:

"To dream the impossible dream To fight the unbeatable foe To bear with unbearable sorrow To run where the brave dare not go

To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star

This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far

To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause

And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest

And the world will be better for this That one man, scorned and covered with scars Still strove with his last ounce of courage To reach the unreachable star"

So I ask you again, just because it is impossible, does that mean it is not a worthy endeavor?

The Wright brothers didn't think so, and they accomplished the impossible - to make man fly. Don Quixote helped the whore Aldonza to believe that she was worth something and she became his lady in waiting Dulcinea. You see, sometimes, just sometimes, the impossible becomes possible and the world becomes a better place.

This is why I'm a hopeless romantic. This is why I hope against all hope. This is why I can't lay my hammer down - yet.

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