Faithfully Odd Bedfellows2011-04-21

While those who celebrate a divine God are honoring the miracles of their faith this week, others will be celebrating the miracle of a divine planet. Somehow, these two ideas have been thrust into an unnatural conflict--as if one could survive without the other. 

A leap of faith is ever more difficult in this age of skepticism, which is precisely why it’s so puzzling that leaders of these divergent communities have eyed each other warily, when collectively they need each other now more than ever.

Improbable as it may be to believe Jesus was resurrected from a grave guarded by Roman soldiers, or that Moses led his rag-tag 12 tribes of slaves out of Egypt, it’s just as improbable to believe the actions of one individual can truly impact the gravitational forces of a planet of seven billion and counting. But believe we must because the future of the planet and the legions of faithful (and skeptics) depend on it.

Faith may have been best defined by the Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu (who was neither a Christian, Jew or a noted environmentalist) when he said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” With that in mind, I’d like to share some of those individual steps I’ve taken this week and how--despite mounting evidence to the contrary--I still believe in the power of ideas and basic human interactions  as the best incubators of hope.

Even though I own an older home that has utility bills that resemble an Ivy League tuition statement, I was able to rely on my network non-profit contacts for advice on who to hire to keep from unnecessarily cooling my attic, so I can put money into a college fund that may (or may not) pay for college. 

Extending the chain, I introduced another contractor to plant based paints with no volatile compounds, formaldehyde or petroleum. They had never tried it before because they heard it was too expensive, but the edamame soy covered so well they ended up using less paint than cheaper big name brands. I also introduced them to my client NewWood, which makes recycled utility board out of landfill-bound plastic and wood waste, to replace some warped wood panels on my garage. I’m fairly certain before they do their next job, these contractors will be stopping at Home Depot to ask when they’ll be carrying these eco-friendly products.

In isolation, none of these choices or conversations will save the world, but they will incrementally build a new market and help create a few new jobs to replace our shriveling manufacturing sector.

Unfortunately, deeds done for the greater good are sometimes distracted by those doing them, which is why Prius drivers strutting their moral superiority have have been hilariously lampooned on South Park in much the same way comedian and Saturday Night Live alum Dana Carvey jigged his way to fame doing the Church Lady’s Superior Dance to the delight of millions.

These evangelizers and missionaries have played a part in every great movement in human history, but the true leaders are the ones who can speak to those who don’t share their passion. Fundamentalism, of any sort, is self-defeating by its own nature because it can never attract enough people over a period of time to be sustainable. So whether you’re eating matzoh, or celebrating Easter or Earth Day, remember: that first step is all about faith, but the journey is more satisfying when it’s shared with others.