Problems

"I think every conscious person, every person who is awake to the functioning principles within his reality, has a moment where he stops blaming the problems in the world on group think, on humanity and authority, and starts to face himself."

- Donald Miller

After every complaint about world issues you never hear anyone blame themselves. It's all about the other guy. You blame global warming on all the cars on the road, yet you don't bother driving your own car because "you're not as bad as the other guy." You blame unemployment and homelessness on corporations and cheap overseas production, but what money do you give to shelters or non-profit organizations? You put the weight of the world on governments and the legislature but you yourself take no stand. The problems aren't out there, there inside of you and me. You are the problem. I am the problem. It makes me feel like a hypocrite in many ways.

I imagine it like looking into a mirror and seeing but a poor reflection. And while you gaze deeper and deeper into the reflections eyes you realize what you have become. The monster inside has revealed itself. You realize that it is your own reflection, yet you don't know what you have become. Then comes the all important, sum-of-all questions. You stare into your eyes believing you can see inside of yourself, and as you gaze deeper and deeper a look of concern washes over and you ask...

Who am I?

A breakthrough. A moment of finally understanding. The problem isn't the goverments or gods, the terrorists or teachers, the oil refineries or polar ice caps. The problem is yourself.

A very prominent and thought-provoking scene in the movie "Iron Man" comes to mind. There is our hero, pissed off because his weapons company is dealing to both sides of a war. He gets up, not to go to some rally to protest with a picket sign, but to do what he can to solve the problem. As he walks up to get into his suit, he looks and sees his reflection in the window. He sees what is inside of him, and destroys it. He destroys the monster inside and becomes what he truly wants to do.

Save the world.