The ST Singaporean of the Year.

This week, I joined a discussion with a small group of young adults and we talked about an excellent spirit. 

In today’s world, what is an excellent spirit? 

Deep inside, we have already been conditioned or preempted by the question. The word “excellent” compels us to imagine adjectives like honesty, integrity, character, goodness, consistency, kindness, and so on. 

In a pedantic nutshell, it is to be the best in everything we do; and if possible, try not to settle for just good. 

But we know that that can never satisfy because the yawning gap between a discussion about excellence and a life living it out is what’s gnawing at our spirit. Most times, a discussion of this nature is constrained by intense self-introspection.

The essence of it is this, how to not only relate to an excellent spirit personally, but to live it out daily?

At this opportune time, I feel that a nudge in the right direction here comes in 13 unsung heroes of our time, and many more unpublicised. 

They are nominees of the “ST Singaporean of the Year 2019”.

In the many articles written about it two days ago, journalist Rohit Brijnath brought out Mark Twain. His point is sharp and easily identifiable by the majority. Here is how Rohit puts it: -

“To slightly paraphrase the American humorist, he once noted that “unconsciously we all have a standard by which we measure other people, and if we examine closely we find that this standard is a very simple one, and is this: We admire them, we envy them, for great qualities we ourselves lack.””

He added: “People often want to do good, but like most of us leave it at that. They are troubled by hungry people but go no further than concern. They grate at inequality but don’t translate idea into deed. They want to make a contribution to their society but halt at good intention.”

At that point, something sparked in me, and trust me, it’s not joy. It is more of a rueful admission. And that spark is “good intention”. We halt at good intention. 

Mind you, the road to hell may be paved with good intention, but so is heaven. We must not forget that. 

It’s not about good intention so much as it is about how far we are prepared to take (or journey) with it. That is, all the way? To be in the center of the ring (of responsibility), where we fight a good fight regardless of how long it takes? 

Or, do we want to just feel good about good intention, and stay warmly tucked in with the crowd, or spectator, cheering others on, living life from one vicarious episode to another?

I believe no one has ever been ennoblised by intentions. They are remembered by actions, that is, consistent broken down steps, forward-pursuing ones, that bring one closer to his or her worthy goals. 

I recall that big shots are small shots that keep shooting, a match that keeps lighting, a drop that keeps dripping, and a spirit that keeps fighting. 

Maybe, that - in a less-pedantic nutshell - is the spirit of excellence - Ordinary lives doing extraordinary things without ceasing. 

That is where the 13 of them come in. We have a blood donor, an inspiring teacher, two selfless rescuers, a food donor, a couple who make a home in the hearts of those young people the society has forgotten, and many more. 

They inspire us because they pull us in another direction, a road less travelled. 

In a society that is conditioned to strive, to win, to outbid, to outdo, and to acquire and accumulate, these nominees are like salmons swimming against the grain or flow of our most basic natural desire.

Admittedly, President Halimah puts it best when she said: -

“The daily humdrum of our existence, mired in work and other responsibilities, has not deadened our souls, and we find nourishment in helping others. The human spirit remains undaunted, and the stories of the nominees are clear examples of the betterment of others, so long as we have the heart to do so. We don’t have to wait for others to show the way. If all of us do our part, no matter how small, we will collectively become an indefatigable force for good.”

I know it is difficult at this moment to imagine a society where we “collectively become an indefatigable force for good” in a world whose materialist culture is seeped in a collective (in default) force for self-attention and enrichment. 

But let me end with this Talmud-inspired thought: -

“He who save a single life, saves the entire world.”

I know one may take that as saving our neighbour, one life at a time, and making that difference, and if everyone does it, the world would be a better place. 

But, I take it as saving our own life. 

Alas, the greatest struggle is not the world out there, it is and has always been the world within. It is a vast world, a world of frenzy monologuing, a world of persuasions and dissuasions, of reprimanding and indulging, of regrets and apathy. 

We fight a good fight when we come out of that innermost struggle on a daily basis with a resolve to be faithful, truthful, humble, consistent, and self-correcting, learning to do and be better. It is about raising above our nature. It is about being a light to a darkened world. 

That is my definition of an excellent spirit, that is, we save a life by saving ourselves.

Ps: indeed, it is always about us, because it starts with us.