When I mentor young people, I am fond of asking what they would do if they had a magic wand.
Sometimes the kids answer with wishes for this toy or that. Maybe some super duper electronic game or something that I have no idea what they are talking about. Depending on their age they might ask for something they see on television like a fast car or a faster computer. Or a very expensive pair of sneakers.
Sometimes they wish for better grades. Once in a while a kid will ask for a parent who is less harsh or more caring, Admissions like that break my heart.
For adults, the magic wand thing can be impactful. Think about it. What would you do if you had a magic wand? Pay off the mortgage? Buy a bigger car? Bring health to a member of your family or a dear friend?
There is much in life that a magic wand could affect.
New year’s resolutions are different. Resolutions offer us the opportunity to do something instead of relying on magic wand wishes.
For the kid who wants better grades, resolution offers the opportunity to work harder in school. For the kid who wants a new computer game, resolving to shovel snow or mow lawns may offer the opportunity to earn dollars to buy the game.
Often we relegate our magic wand wishes and our new year’s resolutions to what we want. How we can enrich ourselves. How we might become happier by having this or that.
But there is another dimension.
I recall a story about a father and his young daughter. It seems that the little girl asked her dad a lot of questions. Why didn’t Jesus come to their house like Santa Claus? When Jesus grew up did he help Santa Claus deliver presents too? And what is new year’s? Why do people get so excited? Why do they act crazy?
The dad explained that Christmas is when baby Jesus was born. That Santa Claus comes to deliver presents. And new year’s is when everybody hopes that next year will be better than last year.
Of course, everything he said added confusion for the little girl.
The dad tried to answer the questions as best he could.
Time passed. And the little girl was at church. She noticed a crucifix hanging on the wall. What is that? Does it hurt? Who is that person?
Again the dad answered. He explained the birth of Jesus, his death and the dad’s beliefs. And how that was important for the little girl. She took it all in.
More time passed. The little girl’s school was closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The teachers had explained the history of Martin Luther King, Jr. Who he was. Some things he had said. How he died. And why the school was closed for a day.
The dad decided to take his little girl for lunch, since he was also off work that day. The girl did not say much. In fact she did not want to talk at all. She just sat there with a frown on her face.
What’s wrong?
Nothing.
Come on. You can tell me.
No response.
Please tell me. I love you.
Why do people kill other people?
What do you mean?
Jesus was killed. Dr. King was killed. And the teacher said that Abraham Lincoln was killed too.
The dad tried as he could to explain what drove people to do bad things. But it was hard.
At that moment he thought how nice it would be to have a magic wand. To make all the ugliness disappear. So that his young daughter could grow up in a nicer and safer world. Unfortunately, there was no such thing as a magic wand.
He then thought about new years and how his resolutions had fizzled out. Even if he had kept them – they had not been worth much when he considered the depth of questions coming from his little girl.
Maybe he should have resolved to set a better example for his daughter. To treat other people the way he believed Jesus had taught. To share more of his good fortune with those who had less. To show his daughter how to accept people with differing perspectives, backgrounds, beliefs. Maybe she should be focusing on the good in people and not the bad.
Yet, the dad was concerned. Isn’t all of this just being overly sensitive? Did he really want this thinking to lead his daughter to become a liberal? To grow up to think it is OK to marry someone of another race? Of another religion? To become a do-gooder? To take care of those who have nothing? That was not the American dream he had known.
So where was the balance? How could he guide his little girl when he had not come to grips with his own feelings.
It was then that he was struck with a thought.
Maybe he should really live his beliefs. Be empathetic and supportive. Favor the least and the overlooked. Be an example for good.
As he rolled it around in his mind, he felt the back and forth tug of goodness on one side… and the ease of doing nothing on the other. What should he do?
Bill Gindlesperger is a central Pennsylvanian, Dickinson College graduate, Pennsylvania System Of Higher Education (PASSHE) Governor, former Shippensburg University Trustee, awarded numerous patents, as well as Founder and Chairman of eLynxx Solutions. eLynxx provides cloud-software for automated sourcing and managing of mail marketing, swag, packaging, and all things print. He is a board member, campaign advisor, successful entrepreneur, published author and commentator. He can be reached at Bill.Gindlesperger@eLynxx.com.
