A big project

I've been thinking about blogging -- about my blog -- and it seems to me that everyone should have a project to work on. A big project, like a blog, really gives a lot of meaning to life. Projects aren't just for individual people either. A big St. Louis Arch or even massive Ozymandias-style sculpture can really unite a community. A big enough project can unite an organization, a nation... even a planet. Honestly, the survival of the group depends on having a long range goal. Day-to-day affairs like taking out the trash so that breathing remains fun, electing honorable treasurers to that the group fund embezzlement ceases, and setting CEO salaries so that lavish lifestyles continue are all necessary, but these don't inspire; instead they often divide a group. A long range goal keeps the whole group whole.

Yes, people can be divided against themselves. I want to watch TV, I need to finish my homework, I need to clean the bathroom, I ran out of clean underwear late last week, my boss wants this typed up by at 3:15 pm at the latest, unless magic elves have refilled the refrigerator I can't eat dinner until I shop, this novel is three weeks overdue at the library and I'm not even halfway through it, I need a nap! These little projects all peck away at the fun parts of life. They can hypnotize you, steal away your motivation, and leave you as a sad and deflated balloon on the floor of life. A big long term project like crafting a quilt, writing a novel, or rebuilding a 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 makes the rest of life worthwhile.

A big inspiring project becomes the focal point of your life. Suddenly the drudgery of dishwashing offers free mental time for developing the first sentence of the next chapter. Time waiting for the spouse to place each hair in perfect position becomes an opportunity to look over the engine block. Soaking in the rays of the television's light can be accompanied by cutting strips of fabric. Suddenly the little hassles go undetectable. The long road seems so much smoother when your eyes are on the distant monument.

Big is the key. Inspiring. The key is to withhold gratification and persevere at a lengthy but enjoyable project. Fanatically cheering for a sporting team can have a similar effect, but it doesn't allow for everyone to put effort toward the task. Spectators are good, but the more people involved in the task, the easier it is to keep interest and support.

Organizations fall apart when there work is complete. Look at the Federalists: their purpose was to get the United States Constitution accepted. That complete... they didn't have anything to hold them together. Disintegration.

Look at Athens versus Sparta. Athens was this wonderful democracy where everyone was at least tolerably content. Sparta had nothing but a long-term project: military power. Every aspect of Spartan society was directed toward that goal. Their happiness may be debatable, but everyone knew they were helping toward a big project.

Wars, like sports, unite, but they also bring their own problems. The modern world leaves a lot less room for the noble war that everyone will stand behind. Choosing a war as your binding element can be risky: what if you lose? Even worse (or better?!?), wars must end eventually. I'm guessing that the Hundred Years war didn't feature a lot of cheering to the yell "We're gonna win this one" after a few generations of battle.

For better ideas, look at the Apollo Project. "A man on the moon." Okay, it was sort of a race, but it had a lot of the "us against ourselves" element that makes the best group project. If you're asking "Can we really achieve this?" and answering "I bet we can!" then you've found a great project.

What this planet really needs is a big wonderful inspiring project. A world quilt (probably figuratively rather than literally) that we can all help build or knit. Something difficult, yet possible, that will produce something wonderful. Something we can all dream about... together.