A Bigger Purpose

Everyone needs a purpose. A way to be useful. A centerpiece on which to focus their will and energy. It is clear when you see someone who has purpose. They have an intensity, a focus, a drive that enables them to accomplish orders of magnitude more than someone who is drifting.

I believe this concept is true on any scale. It applies to families, to companies, to churches, and even to nations. Regardless of the level of natural, human, technical, and economic resources if the people are not unified around a central purpose they will drift and be blown before the ever changing winds of circumstance.

When a nation has a purpose it ignites the resourcefulness of its people and it inspires them to actions far above their personal expectations. It enables them to achieve what could be considered miraculous results.

We have seen this twice in the past century. WWII inspired us to work together to defeat a common enemy. We fought a two front war against two empires that threatened to reshape the world into a much darker place. We sacrificed, we fought, we became unified to win.

The second instance was the moon shot. It was not as all-encompassing as WWII, but it captured the imagination of the entire country. It inspired a whole generation of writers, artists, pilots, engineers, and astronauts. It showed what could be done when we worked together to create something.

Since the last moon landing in 1972 (Apollo 17) we have been devoid of any central national purpose. We have built a lot, we have learned a lot, we have been productive. However, we have not been unified. We have not had a vision.

Since I have been paying attention to politics I have not even heard our leaders present the concept of a tangible national vision. They have had plans and goals, initiatives and programs, but nothing that comes close to inspiring like going to the moon (yes, they have discussed going to the moon, but we've already done that now).

What is the purpose of these United States? Why do we exist? What unifying purpose can we rally around to make our nation and our world a better place? I do not have the answer. I do not know what could possibly bring together our nation given the level of partisanship and polarization that exists, but if anything can it is a goal so big it challenges our imaginations to even comprehend it.

If we want "to make America great again" we need a vision that includes us all.