Bragging Rights

Everyone (or, most everyone) wants success. A beautiful home, expensive vacations, successful kids and a fine reputation are the stuff American dreams are made of. And there's nothing wrong with that. The sheer amount of ourselves which we put into being successful, however, is another story entirely.

Percy Bysshe Shelly, the 19^th century Romantic poet, composed a work which speaks well to this matter. Titled Ozymandias, the poem tells of an ancient ruin in the desert. Inscribed at that ruin are the words of the ruler Ozymandias, who invites people to look in awe at the amazing world he created.Thing is, that world is gone. All that's left of Ozymandias' kingdom is sand.

So much for bragging rights.

I think it's safe to say the vast majority of us in this society have a bit of Ozymandias in us. I think it's also safe to say the vast majority of our achievements will end up vanishing in time like Ozymandias' kingdom. Is this a bleak view of things? Perhaps. I'd like to think, however, that this outlook also helps put things in perspective.

If so little of what we do is capable of long-term survival, perhaps we need to focus more on the things which can actually stand the test of time. Providing an example to young people on how to behave, for instance; or perhaps giving of ourselves to others any variety of ways.

Time may be ruthless, but the desire to carry out good deeds is contagious.