Edge Makes The Difference

This morning a news story on National Public Radio caught my attention. The story chronicled the 75th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s “Dandi March”, which is also known as the “Salt March.” Tomorrow people from across the globe will join together to re-enact this march which encompasses some 241 miles to the beach in Dandi Gujarat. The Dandi March is considered by many to be the biggest and most successful of the defiance campaigns initiated by Gandhi. At the age of 61 he walked to the sea to perform a simple act of making salt. In doing so he defied the mighty British Empire and the laws that they had established prohibiting the people of India from making salt.

In 1965 on the March 7, some 600 marchers headed east out of Selma, Alabama onto route 80 headed towards Montgomery, Alabama. These marchers walked only six blocks before they were met by police, police dogs, water cannons, and brutal force. Two more attempts would be required before these people could reach their goal in Montgomery. They were marching to achieve the right to vote for African Americans.

Sometimes a message can hit you so hard that you reel backwards from the awesome weight of its significance. As I spent time today thinking about these two events, I could not help but immediately see the similarity. It is well known that Martin Luther King Junior both studied and admired Gandhi. Many of the tactics used by the Civil Rights Movement in the United States were modeled on Gandhi’s non-violence principals. I can’t help but to also believe that the very timing of the march may well have coincided with that historic march taken up by a man in his 60’s some thirty-five years before. Each of these singular events sparked a movement and a sea change for a nation. Gandhi moved his people against the tyranny of the British Empire, while King moved his people against unfair laws and policies in the United States.

Writers and historians far more significant than me have written about these events. I have no illusions that I can add anything more eloquent to the discourse that has already been provided. Instead I raise these two points to highlight a more current issue. The issue I want to address is the absence of Edge.

Gandhi and King held strong convictions. They spoke about the things that they believed in. But more than their words, each of these men in their own way acted. In each case they stood up against forces that they believed were wrong. Given the times in which each of these men lived the risks they faced were enormous. Each man knew that their actions could well cost them their lives. Each man suffered jail time for their actions, and each of them were beaten or otherwise physically abused for fighting for what they believed in. Gandhi and King were men that possessed deep courage. They were men that understood “Edge.”

Every day I see and I experience so many examples that tell me that Edge is gone from our society. I speak with workers that accept unfair work practices or treatment from immoral or corrupt bosses and employers; I see parents that give up on their rebellious teenagers; and I see friends not standing by friends in times of need. In each of these cases I see a lack of Edge when the stakes are high. I see professionals in the work place that have become so convinced of their self-importance that they have lost sight of productivity, or customers or meaning. People are too afraid or too complacent to make a difference.

Our world is full of far too many examples of people that don’t have Edge. We see repeated random acts of callousness. We ignore or condone injustices as long as they are not being done to us. We want more, we get more, and we do less. We abandon people that need us most, because we are too busy or perhaps too important to stop for a moment to understand their troubles. We only look out for ourselves, and don’t consider needs of the world around us.

Gandhi and King risked their lives to start movements that changed their worlds. Their singular actions did not effect change overnight. They endured personal hardships. They suffered in jails and experienced many forms of abuse. They used Edge to make a change that did not benefit them. They gave their lives to make a difference.

I want you to ask yourself some questions today. What have you done lately to improve the circumstances of someone other than yourself? I am not asking if you have risked your life for a cause. Rather, I am asking something simpler. Have you picked anyone up that you knew was down? Have you made a difference in the life of someone else this week? What are you celebrating? Is it a great meeting, or an incredible sale? Have you celebrated the joy of a child? Have you high fived the hug of a loved one? Have you been seen thrusting your fist in the air saying “Yes!” because of someone that you helped? Are you doing what matters?

As you began this day you were given yet another opportunity to make a difference. First, express gratitude for the 24 hours you have been given today. Next, shake off all of the negative thoughts you have had today about the weather, traffic, or the coffee being colder than you like it. Decide now that starting today you will make a difference. You will say what needs to be said when an injustice is being done. Today you will say no to your unhealthy urges and impulses. Today you will sincerely thank someone, listen to someone, and hug someone.

Your actions today will not change the world. But you may inspire another who will someday make a difference, and in that small way, you too will have made a difference. We have our history to teach us about how small actions can change the world. Take the time to act now.