We watched the movie "Crash" last night. For those of you haven't seen it, the movie covers the intertwining stories of many diverse individuals throughout the course of a couple of days. It's a gritty movie! The first half is filled with this palpable angst...racial tensions, family tensions, crimes, injustices...as people's lives intersect. It was almost unbearable!

But then the profundity of the movie begins to emerge in the second half. Wow! I don't think I've ever seen this simple truth more compellingly portrayed...we are all alike. We are each just as capable of great harm/bad...and just as capable of great good. Those who thought they were just a little better than everyone else were humbled when they came face to face with their own humanity. Those who we so often consider "bottom of the barrel" or "worthless scum" proved themselves just as capable of heroism when it came down to difficult choices.

The rich, cold DA's wife who despises the rest of the world finally realizes she's a hollow woman with hollow friends and the best friend she has is her loyal (and lowly) housekeeper. The cop who stands up against racial injustice on the force winds up shooting an innocent kid because he assumed the worst based on race. The racist prick of a cop risks his own life to save the very same woman he had harassed the night before just for the color of her skin. The kid who steals cars for a few measly dollars turns down a boat-load of money to set a group of refugees free. Those are just a few of the many intertwining stories that unfold over the span of two days.

I thought the movie did a brilliant job of peeling away the layers of race, age, socio-economic status, individual pasts, social advantages...and showing that underneath it all, we really are all equal. We're all human beings faced constantly by choices...some big, some little...that could forever change the course of our own lives or the lives of others. Human beings with the same capacity to fall or rise with each and every choice. Human beings with the same capacity to cause hurt or change the world, even for just one person.

So what does this have to do with ARK's mission? It really speaks to my belief that every single person on the face of the earth has something to offer to the rest of the world. It's up to each of us to choose to use what we've been given...those unique skills, abilities, personality, resources...to make a difference. It's not a one-time choice either, but a series of choices we make each and every day...to do harm (maybe even by doing nothing) or do good. What's your choice today? And tomorrow? And the day after?

And finally, the people we serve through acts of random kindness are in no way less than we are. They aren't a project to fix. They are just as capable of helping you as you are of helping them, and they have just as much innate value as a fellow human being as you or me or anyone else.   

        

Launching ARK Adventure hasn't exactly been a walk in the park. Sure, some of it is easy...especially when I tap into my own vision for changing the world. But much of this phase is about pushing ahead even when it's hard. Of course there are the expected tedious parts like preparing to incorporate and file for non-profit status. The surprising challenge though has been the resistance I've experienced when talking with people. Well, certain people, that is.

I started in our local community with leaders in the religious institutions (that's "church" to most people). After all, it made logical sense that people who profess Christianity might be interested in making a difference in the world, and what better way to share ARK's vision with them than through the place where they gather and the leaders who lead them. Right? WRONG!! Instead of interest, I met with resistance and territorial "we've already got that covered."

Wow!! So as I'm scratching my head wondering what's wrong with this picture, I ran across this quote in a fantastic book (The Starfish and the Spider, the Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations by Ori Brafman and Rod Beckstrom:

"But centralized organizations aren't good platforms. For one thing, if orders come from above, the membership might follow, but they won't be inspired to give it their all. Second, leaders in top-down organizations want to control what's happening, thereby limiting creativity. Third, and most important, centralized organizations aren't set up to launch decentralized movements. Without circles, there isn't the infrastructure for people to get involved and take ownership of the idea."

Ah, now that fits perfectly with my experience trying to explain my vision to people with institutionalized, centralized, top-down mindsets! For the leaders, it's about controlling the situation and making sure the people below you toe the line. For the people following, it's about obeying the rules of the group, not enjoying the creativity to follow your own unique vision. Any getting involved that  happens is about feeding someone else's vision, not taking ownership of your own ability to make a difference.

And that, my friend, is why institutions (whether religious, governmental, or other) will never change the world.

        

Hi and welcome to ARK Adventure! I will be posting my thoughts on social change and acts of random kindness here in this blog. Please feel free to add your thoughts as well using the comments feature. Depending on how this journey (of launching ARK Adventure.com) progresses and based on feedback from readers, I may switch from a blog to a discussion forum.

Here's to changing the world!