We all have seen picture of the historic monument, Mount Rushmore. It shows the faces of four of our most celebrated presidents. Can you name them? That's right... Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt, forever enshrined in stone, looking out on the American landscape, anchoring us in the past, and looking into the future. Each provided leadership at a crossroads in American history. Each define the greatness of the presidency. Carved in a granite mountainside, they are an iconic picture of the United States, recognized by many Americans and on many people's list of things to see in their lifetimes.
What you don't see lies at the foot of the sculpture... tons and tons of granite, blasted, carved and chiseled by the work of hundreds of craftsmen who spent eleven years working on bringing these faces out of the mountain in which they were hidden. The mountain cradles among its ruins the portrait of a strong, undefeated America.
I loved walking along the Monument Trail around the base of the rock, seeing the iconic memorial from a brand new perspective. The president's faces can each be seen individually, framed by blue sky and the branches of trees growing at the base of the enormous sculpture. They say that 90% of the rock of Mount Rushmore was blasted off with dynamite. The rest of was pounded off with drills and jackhammers - only the last 1/2 inch was finessed off by sanding, which gives the presidents their smooth complexions.
And I thought about how much the story of this great American place is just like the story of our lives. About how we too are start out as blank slates, and how often our personalities and personas are formed not by little bits being broken off gently, but blasted off in big chunks by the crises and disasters of our lives. Those remnants lay in ruin around our feet, not as a sign of defeat, but as a remembrance of the work and determination that have gone into to shaping us into the people that we become.
No one lives a life without some kind of hardship... if they say they do, then maybe they aren't really living. Taking chances, making mistakes, weathering hardships... these are the times that build character and define our choices.
These four presidents presided over times of great transition in our country. Transitions that tested what people were made of... and they ushered in new eras of peace and intellectual ideas and sometimes even wealth. Their ideas and leadership were often considered radical. They were loved by most and reviled by many. And the United Stated of America would not be who she is today with even one of them.
Visiting Mount Rushmore National Memorial reminded me that patriotism is not just spoken about, but lived in everyday lives. Patriotism is not just about flag waving, but about making contributions to our communities and families that make a difference in positive, enduring ways.
I did not expect that visiting this monument would be so emotional for me, but I was moved to tears as I stepped out on the terrace to stand in full view of this amazing, wonderful tribute to four men who made a difference. I knew intellectually that 400 men and an immigrant stone carver had worked to make a legacy here. But I didn't know until I stood in front of it what a distinctive, improbable contribution they had made to life in this country. They didn't know how it would all turn out. And they did it anyway.
We often wonder if what we do makes a difference. And maybe we won't make splashes in any ponds anytime soon, or even ever. But we can't accomplish anything if we don't take a chance. And doing big things takes teamwork, and trust, and sometimes going against conventional wisdom. In the end, we are rewarded... sometimes with a result, but always with the experience.
Peace, Deb
“It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it.” ~ Albert Einstein
“Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” ~ Robert Louis Stevenson
“Fear less, hope more; eat less, chew more; whine less, breathe more; talk less, say more; hate less, love more; and all good things are yours.” ~ Swedish Proverb
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