It is I Who Must Begin

It is I who must begin.

Once I begin, once I try --

here and now,

right where I am,

not excusing myself

by saying things

would be easier elsewhere,

without grand speeches and

ostentatious gestures,

but all the more persistently

-- to live in harmony

with the "voice of Being," as I

understand it within myself

-- as soon as I begin that,

I suddenly discover,

to my surprise, that

I am neither the only one,

nor the first,

nor the most important one

to have set out

upon that road.

Whether all is really lost

or not depends entirely on

whether or not I am lost.

~Vaclav Havel

The author of this poem, Vaclav Havel, passed away today. An obituary can be found here.

Havel was an activist in Czechoslovakia and his leadership was critical to the success of the non-violent Velvet revolution, which brought democracy in the country shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall. He was then elected President of Czechoslovakia, and after the country split, the first President of the Czech Republic.

I share his story on this blog, because Havel was a dreamer. He dreamed of a world better than the authoritarian regime of the status quo and he worked to achieve it. Havel started as a playwright, masterfully criticizing soviet rule through his art. After decades of speaking truth to power and being jailed for it, he reluctantly rose to political leadership and had to adjust to the practical realities that come with holding national office. Still, Havel held to his values and was often seen as a moral voice for the country as it charted a new course.

As Humility of Mary Volunteers, we have committed to take action in solidarity with all who are marginalized in a peaceful and non-violent manner. Though we are limited in many ways as individuals, there is still much we can do. We can follow Vaclav Havel’s example and speak truth to power in all things. We can forcefully advocate with and for those who have little or no voice of their own. We can dream of a world better than the one we inhabit today, and we can work to bring that dream to fruition. 

We can do all of these things right where we are, but many times, we find excuses to put it off. For me, I always dreamed of doing good in the world "when I grow up." Havel's poem taught me that these plans for the future mean nothing if I am unwilling to act on them in the present. I learned that my dreams are only worth something if I leave behind the excuses and the need for "grand speeches and ostentatious gestures." If I can get past the obstacles and distractions that keep pushing the dream to some distant and remote future. In other words, dreams can only become a reality by taking that first step and beginning, here and now, right where I am.

Rest in peace Vaclav Havel. Thank you for your inspiring words.