Redtree Times

“Mantra”- Available Now at West End Gallery

We can make a little order where we are, and then the big sweep of history on which we can have no effect doesn’t overwhelm us. We do it with colors, with a garden, with the furnishings of a room, or with sounds and words. We make a little form, and we gain composure.

–Robert Frost

We’re in the last days of an election cycle that will no doubt have huge consequences for our future. Short of having to cast your vote, there is little left for any of us to do at this point.

Well, nothing truly productive. I guess you could try to block traffic with the hopes of keeping others away from the polls or could take your assault rifle and go stand near polling places with the intent of intimidating others from voting against your candidate.

There is plenty of evidence that there are some folks of lower intelligence out there who think these actions might be productive. How they believe that that acting goonish and obstructing the vote and the will of others somehow helps their cause is beyond my comprehension. If anything, it might instead harm the legitimacy and strength of their cause.

My belief is that which is just and righteous is often exhibited best through calmness and composure. 

I recently came across a snippet taken from a story from author G.K Chesterton that stayed with me on this very point:

“If we are calm,” replied the policeman, “it is the calm of organized resistance.”
“Eh?” said Syme, staring.
“The soldier must be calm in the thick of the battle,” pursued the policeman. “The composure of an army is the anger of a nation.”

“The composure of an army is the anger of a nation.”

Think about it. The strength and rightness of one’s cause is best exhibited with calm determination. 

Okay, I am getting away from the original intent of this entry. I am actually falling into believe that at this late date words can still have an effect when we are at a point that Frost describes at the top as “the big sweep of history on which we can have no effect.”

No, from this point on I am focusing, or at least trying to focus, on Frost’s advice of making forms. Create some sort of order with line and color, something I can control to some extent.

I have done what I can do. Now I must leave the the results behind, along with all anger and angst. Focus only on that which is in front of me. 

Repeat this mantra today and tomorrow: Composure comes from form.