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Editorial: Fruits of our efforts
Op-Ed · November 25, 2016
The year 2016 will make history, and November will highlight it.
Just this month, the Chicago Cubs won the World Series for the first time in 108 years, Republican Donald Trump upset Democrat Hillary Clinton to win the presidential election, the Iowa Hawkeyes football team beat No. 3-ranked Michigan and, on Friday, the six-time state champion Regina Regals football team saw its streak broken in the Class 1A championship game.
Wow.
What else could happen?
These unlikely events are causing, for some, great joy, and, for others, great frustration, anxiety and even fear.
Yet Thanksgiving Day this Thursday reminds us to shake all that off and get back to basics, to remember what is most important.
For our faithful, church-going segment of the population, that would be that God exists, has a plan that addresses even the down times of life, and that He is in control. For those who do not profess faith, you are encouraged to remember that should your basic needs be met — food, shelter and clothing — you also have many reasons to give thanks.
Anything after that is, if we may use a Thanksgiving reference, gravy.
Of course, we tend to want more than just the basic needs of life. That’s OK, because most of us want to make a positive difference in the world around us.
As parents, we want our children to be emotionally and physically healthy, strong, smart, well-rounded and likable, so we read about and apply lessons of setting a good example, discipline, nutrition, education, exercise, hard work, etc.
As employees, we want to ensure our continued employment by doing our jobs well, so we welcome feedback, find ways to improve, bring a positive attitude, show up on time, etc.
As good citizens and neighbors, we want to take care of our house and property, follow laws, help those in need, volunteer for school and community activities, donate to charities and non-profits, pay our taxes, etc.
All of this starts with our minds, and Thanksgiving reminds us that it is OK to want more, but to stop when wanting means hurting others to get what we want. It’s fine if wanting pushes you to work hard to raise the money to replace your broken-down car; it’s wrong to steal a car from someone who has already made the effort.
Friedrich Nietzsche once said, “Let everything break that is able to be broken,” but there are certain things too important or too valuable for us to interfere — the family, good values, liberty, etc. — and we, as a society, need to fight hard to find common ground and agree on what in our world is sacrosanct. That is one of the most important lessons of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving does not mean being happy with the status quo so long as you have the obligation and ethical means to change it.
West Branch has a lot for which to be thankful. Our churches and civic groups take part in community service projects, our elected officials do appear to have the best interests of the school and city in mind, we have food banks both in the schools and in the Town Hall. Flood-prevention efforts have reduced downtown water levels during heavy storms, and more are planned. The city has been constantly repairing long-neglected sewer lines and sidewalks, as well as building new sidewalks. West Branch Community Development Group and entrepreneurs have made and maintained a vibrant downtown that continues to improve. And from sports to fine arts to extra-curricular educational groups, most of our community is ready to support them with finances, time or attendance.
Maybe we’re wrong, though. All of those things we listed above — the Cubs, Trump, the Hawkeyes, Regina — maybe none of that was as “unlikely” as some made it seem.
In each case, people with clear goals in mind worked really hard to make those things happen.
Those who work hard will not win every battle, but their efforts will pay off in the long run.
For those of you who work hard to make your world a better place, take time to relax and enjoy the fruits of your efforts, and even the unexpected or undeserved blessings, this Thanksgiving.
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