Inspiration: Bill Sackter and beyond

At times it seems the struggle for just and tolerant communities is too overwhelming. We look around and see so many obstacles: poverty, intolerance, even indifference. We are on the verge of losing hope.

At times like these, I think of Bill Sackter. I've found him to be an extraordinary source of hope and inspiration. He spent nearly half a century in the old Faribault State Hospital in Minnesota, completely cut off from family, friends and community. But he emerged with his spirit intact.

It's that remarkable spirit he brought to us here in Iowa City. It's that same spirit he shared wherever he went. It's also the spirit which Barry Morrow captured in the two movies, "Bill" and "Bill On His Own."

I talked about this spirit of Bill at a service learning conference awhile back. I was responding to this question: How does one keep hope alive? And this one: How can one find the strength to continue social and community work despite the obstacles and the failures?

In response, I offered five ideas, ideas for restoring and sustaining hope.

1. Places
John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club, spent much of his life trying to protect areas of wilderness so they could continue to serve as places of inspiration for future generations. Paul Gruchow described this as the "necessity of empty places." Wallace Stegner said this is a "geography of hope."

Of course, not all of the places which restore the soul are rural, something
acknowledged in the Beatles' tune: "There are places I remember..." I think each of us has places we go to restore hope. For myself, there are five which come to mind: Field of Dreams in Dyers ville, Iowa, Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis, Alum Rock Park in San Jose, Jane Addams' gravesite in Cedarville, Illinois and the Pacific Ocean behind the San Francisco Zoo.

2. Music
Music has the power to restore. My inspirations range from Pachabel to Led Zeppelin, from Mozart to the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The best gifts I have received in the last couple of years have been "home brew" CDs of music.

3. Friends
Hanging out with friends is a way to restore and sustain hope, especially friends who are engaged in similar struggles. There are friends I call and say: "Remind me again, why are we doing this."

4. Youth
Listening -- really listening to young people -- is another way to restore hope. I am impressed not only by the idealism of youth, but also by their persistence; not only by their "sense of wonder," but also by their practicality.

5. Thoughtful moments
You may call it meditation, contemplation or even prayer. But these are times when I am able to clear away the clutter of life and consider the "meaning of life" stuff. It could be in concert with any of the other four ways of sustaining hope or on its own. Recently, these moments have come while rereading "Frannie and Zooey" and the Letters of Jane Addams.

That's what I have come up with. Have some additional ideas? I'd be interested in hearing from you.