This quote from 'Miracle on the River Kwai' by Ernest Gordon kind of relates to what I've been writting about- I like it anyway. (may need to be in context to make any sense- Japanese prisoner of world war II camp).

Context-('"what would you expect in an ideal society, then?" I asked.
"My freedom," the Digger shot back at me. "My freedom to think me own thoughts and to live me own life the way I bloomin'-well fancy".
"That would lead to anarchy," said the Englishman quietly.
"And what's wrong with a healthy bit of anarchy, I'd like to know? Im goin' to use some of it when I get back to tell ole Menzies what I think of him for gettin' us into this mess."
"If everybody did that sort of thing where do you think it would get us?" enquired the Englishman.
"I might get us some peace, that's what!" came the Australian's voice from the darkness. "Trouble is, a bloke never has the chance to say what he wants. If all the blokes in the world were to tell the bosses in government that we weren't going to fight no ruddy more wars for them then we could stay at home and take the ole girl swimmin' at Bondi Beach"
There was general laughter and a murmuring of approval.
"That's what the League of Nations tried to do, wasn't it?" called out a voice with a friendly Glasgow accent.
"No it bloody-well didn't mate," retorted the Australian promptly. "Damn' few of the blokes in the world ever knew there was such a thing. It was all for them smooth-tougued bastards in spats and monkey suits- that'swhat it was for."
"Those chaps in spats," said the quiet English voice, "are our duly elected representatives".
"Not mine, they ain't!")

I asked the Australian, "How would you run things?" Let's hear what you've in mind."
"By not runnin' them," he replied quickly. "There's too many blockheads runnin' things as it is. The way things are the state controls us by force and says it does it for our own good. The difference between a tyranny and a democracy, as i see it, is one of degree- the degree of force that is used.""But we've got to have force to preserve law and order," a new voice broke in.
"No, we ain't!" said the Australian hotly. "We don't have to live by force, see! We only think we do."
"What do you mean think we do?" someone jeered.
"Blimey, we've all been told that, ain't we? That's why we studied history at school. History was just one bloody war after another to prove that the simple blokes of the earth have to be kept under control by force."
Explosive murmurs of protest interrupted him.
"Now shut up and let me say my piece," he said in a loud voice, and then continued quickly: "What we blokes have to do when we get back, see, is to say, 'We've had it. No more bleedin' force. We aint interested in keepin' on with the old ways.' What we want is for blokes to respect each other and work with each other."
"And how the hell do you think you're going to do that?" an irritated Scottish voice called out.
"By doing it- just by doing it. WE talk too much."
A sharp burst of laughter greeted this remark.
"All right- I'll give you that," said the Digger, unperturbed. "Me too. I talk too much. We do too little, though. WE talk about democracy, freedom, brotherhood, equality and all those words, but we don't do them, see?"I had to interrupt, "Wind it up, Digger. 'Lights out' is almost due."
"OK Well, what I've been tryin' to say is that it aint the state we want to support, but a community."
"What you want is communism!" a voice shouted out.
"No it bloody-well aint," Said the Australian indignantly.
"Communism just means being forced to do what the state wants and calling it quality. That's all it is. A community is people doing instead of yapping. It aint saying we are equal- its doing it so that it's real. It aint shouting about truth- its doing it. it aint barking about peace- its being peaceful. You get my drift?"Look at this here camp," he continued. "A regular police state it is- run by force. Cobbers like ourselves have been trying to follow the Nip's example. That's why we've been tearin' at each others throats. If you ask me, we might get somewhere if we had a little respect for each other and learned to share what we have.""Impossible- totally impossible," said the English voice authoritatively.
"Like hell it is. It's impossible only because you want it to be impossible. Whan a gang of blokes stand up and show what they mean by what they do- then you'll see changes being made."
The call of a bugle cut him short.
"You'll see the blokes executed," said the Englishman.
We broke up. As we walked away from the bamboo grove, the Australian's final words echoed in my ears:"...then you'll see changes being made."
"Yes," I thought to myself, "we'll see the Kingdom of God."'



Why do we assume its impossible to all humans not to live selfishly, voilently, without respect....etc. Maybe we should stop using sin as an excuse and see it more as a challenge- a challenge that needs continued work, self checking/ accountability.

Maybe you can't change the world, but you can change your world- and see the Kingdom of God. (I suggest you read the whole book for a good example of what that can look like)