Farewell Robert Redford

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Redford

When Robert Redford was asked about what inspired him he replied "it was the film Treasure of Sierra Madre"  The thing about that film was the themes of greed and power.  He went on to say “I find them appealing, because greed and power make things go. The wheel finally turns on greed and power. They’re the motives that are important to know. All systems that control us, whether political or financial, or simply an industry that controls a town, run on greed and power.”

One can see the truth in that especially on the commercial side of life, but what about the spiritual side?  

Are we just skin bags out for whatever we can get? 

I'd say yes and no.  

There are lots of people who are deeply invested in the material world and have nary an altruistic bone in them.  And that's fine they'll have the kind of life they have ... mostly transactional and devoid of meaning. 

And then there are the people (maybe more than we realize) that are long term thinkers and doers.  They understand that building community and even making a self-sacrifice in the short term is good for everyone (including the sacrificer) in the long term. 

In terms of Quakerism, it is common that Quakers make choices today that might not bear fruit for a generation.  We tend to play the long game and thank God there are people who think beyond the next business cycle. 

If you want to use a monetary or investment analogy, that gift we give of our time and our empathy will pay massive dividends in the end in terms of goodwill and community building. 

And Robert Redford knew it.   He did lots of stuff for goodwill.  The Sundance Film Festival comes to mind.  It created a platform for indie film that did not exist before he created it.  He also donated his time to climate concerns and other political causes.  

America has lost a giant in American film, but his example endures.  

~ Joseph Olejak