I love history.
Not necessarily the memorizing of dates… I’ve never been too
good at that part. But oh, the stories that took place in real time, that’s
what I love. Even the movies that are based
off a true story, seem more powerful because it really happened to real
people.
I guess the one thing I don’t like is what the history books
choose to highlight as the significant events that make up history. Oh. My. Goodness. If History is defined as the
study of past events affecting human affairs – thousands of years worth of
events could be on the table for the picking.
And what do we get in our abridged collection… wars, governments,
movements, inventions, discoveries, similar periods of thought or progression,
a few key personalities, etc. I suppose
those were chosen because they appear to have been the greatest influence for
change on humankind.
Although, I can’t
help but wonder if the textbook writers got it wrong.
I get how, for the sake of space and interest, they wanted
to choose items that seemed unique in nature and appearing to alter the course
that mankind was pursuing. You know, the
superman syndrome, where one aspires to greatness and stands out above the
masses, becoming a temporary God of society.
After all, we believe in the power of one or the impact of small
movements. Though I would venture that
there was something even more significant than the Roman Empire conquering
other nations. Even more notable than
the printing press or discovering America.
Even more important than the Constitution or the “Origin of Species”. Even greater influence than classical
thinking or the feudal systems. Even
more newsworthy than Pharaohs, Kings, and Emperors. Even more remarkable than the romantic period
of arts.
Was it Ralph Waldo Emerson who penned the phrase, "There is no history, only biography".
I believe the greatest influence in the lives of mankind is
really only a small but simple thing, done by millions across the world for
generations. The singing of lullabies,
the shaping of characters, the nurturing of souls that happens within the homes
of every human being. Done by the masses
(with a few exceptions) yet done on an individual basis. This ministering to the one, or the lack
thereof, has had more impact on society and mankind than all those other
history facts combined. That’s a pretty
audacious statement and it may not be completely accurate, though it does
emphasize just how important the role of each mother and father has on the
world. It doesn’t affect just the one
child, but the world at large.
A mother’s teaching and the woman’s nature has the ability
to define the moral standing on society.
A father’s protecting of women and attitude about work possesses the
capacity of defining the chivalrous expectations on society. Granted, it’s not just one man or one woman’s
contribution that makes all the difference, but united it does. Unity is the key to bring about the changes
and demonstrate the influences on human happenings.
So although I understand why history is recorded as it is,
the real history is taking place right now in our individual homes, each man
and each woman, fulfilling their God-given role, is impacting the whole of
human affairs. We are, each of us, that superman hero that saves humanity.
