Champion Of Lost Causes -- from our July '06 issue

In Frank Capra’s classic movie, “Mr. Smith Goes To Washington” one of the characters is portrayed as “a champion of lost causes”. In his younger years, he was revered as a lawyer who found hope in hopeless situations, taking on cases that nobody else would want, because he believed in the principles behind them.

He believed in “lost causes”. He believed in basic human principles of “love thy neighbor” and treating people with respect and dignity. Eventually, his caring was hardened by years of corruption as a U.S. Senator, until he found an avenue to rediscover those lessons at the very end of the movie.

I believe that many people would want to rediscover those same principles in their lives, too. I believe that, given the chance–and a minute to think about it– most people would want to go into the world with a better attitude towards the people around them.

I believe that most people would want to show more respect and understanding towards family and friends, neighbors, co-workers, even strangers, not for personal gain or profit, but because they know it is the right thing to do.

I agree with them. So help me, God, if I did not have any readers I would still print these articles. Even if a thousand, ten thousand, or even a million people who told me otherwise, lived in their comfortable surroundings, and thought it unnecessary and impractical to think of others at the risk of personal success, I would still write about these principles. Success means nothing to me without the principles to live by. And, I know I am not the only person who thinks this way.

I know of a family who helped me understand these principles. I know of the people who must have helped them, too. I know another close friend who found help through a program that was founded by two drunks. I know the help he received by reaching out and sharing a message of sobriety.

Although we did not share the same disease, we shared the same symptoms, and I discovered the difference that practicing those principles made in my life. I also know the inspiration working for a family who truly thought first about their customers.

I know the inspiration I found from people who painted pictures, wrote books, composed music, and directed films with these principles in mind. They put their dedication in their lives as well as in their work.

These people are the real “champions”. Regardless of their difficulties they have a greater commitment to giving hope and inspiration to others, just as people once helped them. No thought, goal, aspiration, achievement, or anything else I can hope to dream, can come close to practicing the basic principles of “love thy neighbor” and mutual respect.

And, I know that practicing these principles, treating the other person fairly, being respectful, saying “thank you”, “hello:”, and refraining from passing judgment even when I am the only person to do so, is not easy. I am constantly in need of help.

Seemingly without effort, I can say or do the wrong thing. I can prematurely stop from doing the right thing. I can continuously struggle. While I may need help in staying on the right path, I at least have the example of those people whose steadfastness reminds me of what I need to do right in my life.

So, what does this mean? Am I thinking less of myself by putting other people ahead of me? No. Strangely, whenever I go forward unselfishly, I have the opportunity not only to make their day, but to remind myself of my own ability to rise above my problems.

I find a greater hope by providing a hope to others. I find greater understanding by extending understanding. I become a better friend, neighbor, co-worker, and relative. It is so simple. Principles of fairness, mutual respect, and common civility only seem “lost” not because they are no longer present, but because we spend so much time putting our interests on the table, that we fail to see what we might find by making more room for the other person.

I know that there are many people who are already know the value of reaching out in their lives. Instead of compromising their principles, they look to enrich them by extending a greater respect and dignity towards each other.

Instead of categorizing others they simply reach out to everyone. Instead of pointing fingers, or blaming other people, fate, or an unforgiving God for their troubles they apply a greater faith in their lives.

I want only the opportunity to put these principles in this newsletter, to talk about them, and to practice them at group meetings, or anywhere else in my life. I hope and pray that when I approach someone, I find the courage to think first of what I can do to make them feel a little bit better.

Doing so might not change their lives, but it will remind me of the change the lives of other “champions” already made in my life.