2. YES!

The above depicts a new film about to debut. I know little about it, except to say that it is based on a true story where the main character is challenged to say yes to everything that comes his way in his life for one whole year, leading to a series of comic events. Think about this in the context - “ONE WORD CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING” – the premise of this chapter (Book).

“Yes!” to Genesis
In the beginning God was saying “No!” to status quo (“status no”) and “Yes!” to Genesis (Creation): Sky, land, oceans, plants, sun, moon, fish, wild animals, cattle, reptiles, man, woman: “YES!” Genesis is the spiritual counterpart to innovation (a secularly derived concept). Genesis takes the “no” out of innovation and replaces it with “yes.” Allow me to invent a new word here, “Inyesvation” which now becomes a modern Genesis counterpoint.

Culture: “the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization” (Merriam-Webster).

Every new inyesvation will ultimately create its own unique culture, appropriate for that particular time, place and setting. As Genesis continues to unfold there will be a natural reluctance to embrace and assimilate each new ethos as it emerges, clinging tight to what has now become status quo – “things as they were.” Nostalgia is a powerful emotion, none of us immune to it. Thus eventually our “clinging” will be defined by “an unhealthy refusal to let go of the past,” leading to chaos (Status quo + innovation = chaos). In other words, “the enemy is us.”

Nostalgia: Longing – saying “Yes!” to the past and “No!” to Genesis.

Monument to Genesis
Cornel West, Professor of Religion, Princeton, writes: “America—this monument to the genius of ordinary men and women, this place where hope becomes capacity, this long, halting turn of the NO into the YES, needs citizens who love it enough to re-imagine and remake it.”

Permit me to paraphrase the above by substituting the words, “America,” with “The Salvation Army,” “genius” with Genesis and “citizens” with “Soldiers.” Reread the quote in this context and adding the tag line—“see things as they will be.”

Charles Schultz, creator of the innovative comic strip, “Charlie Brown,” daringly chose themes never before attempted in mainstream cartoons, many of them philosophically spiritual in content. His work inspired the Broadway Musical, “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown,” with one of the featured songs appropriately titled, “My New Philosophy.” A performance of this number can be found on YouTube via the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyplR5IZyUU

For those without internet accessibility or savvy, here’s a lyrical sampling:

SCHROEDER]
That's your new philosophy?

[SALLY]
Why are you telling me?
My new philosophy!

[SCHROEDER]
That's great, Sally, but I've gotta go practice Chopin's
Nocturne in B-Flat minor.

[SALLY]
No!! I like it! "No!" That's a good philosophy.
"No!" "No!" "No!"

[SCHROEDER]
That's your new philosophy, huh?

[SALLY]
Yes. I mean-- "No!"

Philosophy: A system of values by which one lives (The Free Dictionary).

YES!