I recently took my seven-year-old baby brother to watch The Dark Knight Rises at its midnight premiere here in Mount Airy, unaware that somewhere else in the world, people were being massacred while trying to do the same. When I heard the news of the shooting, it made me realize that although we can't always prevent evil from taking place, we certainly can be the change that we wish to see in the world. By changing ourselves first, and setting an example for others, the force of good we represent can by far outweigh even the most horrific of actions.

At 24 years of age, I've found that I've always sort of felt out of place in this world. Money is what keeps it turning, and what allows each of us to survive. The world really does "turn on a dime". We spend most of our lives striving to make ends meet. We focus so much on things of monetary value, that movies and books are often where we find our never-ending love stories and heroes, forgetting that those experiences don't have to be confined to film and paper.

We see heartache in the headlines every single day, but only feel the heartache that hits close to home. Our selfishness has a way of muffling the sounds of cries, as innocence is taken in silence, and victims are left with a suffering we can't feel; invisible tears.

I want to hear those cries and I want to see those tears, because problems don't go away just because they're ignored. Sometimes it's the one person listening or watching who has an opportunity to prevent further suffering, or even save a life.

The heartache we find in the headlines is more more than a story. Blood and tears that are shed, creating those headlines, are often still fresh even after the ink has dried in print; the impact potentially lifelong. We need to find our compassion again.

We don't have to be cut out of the same mold that society pushes over on us as acceptable.

Sometimes being a hero is as simple as setting an example, or listening for the voices of the helpless, who may only be heard because someone was selfless enough to answer or amplify their cries.

As long as people walk the face of this Earth, there will be both good and evil. Which side are you on? Remaining silent can at times mean being on the side of evil, simply by not raising awareness or being an example. The balance will always be there, but I can guarantee that I'll always be a force for good. I encourage everyone around me to do the same. The Dark Knight Rises was an excellent film, in my opinion, but the horror that took place should be a reminder to us all that evil always rises; it's time WE rise.

No, you'll never see me sporting a cape or trying to create an iconic character such as Batman out of myself, but I'll contribute to the force of good in my own way, just as you can.

I contribute through encouragement, mainly coming in the form of music. I'm working on writing an album that I hope to record eventually (another monetary obstacle), and one that will encourage. I'll leave you with a song I wrote for the purpose of inspiring, and I hope you'll find some inspiration in it. Please take the words I've shared today to heart, and remember that no matter where you stand on the road between good and evil, it's never too late to change. We all have "A Few More Miles To Go." Take care, and God bless.

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"A Few More Miles To Go" lyrics



Verse 1)

Every day you're getting older.

Don't know what the future holds, but you're

making plans, setting goals,

and wondering where your life will go.

Yesterday has come and gone.

Take what you've learned, and then move on.

Don't be losing track of time.

Here's some things to keep in mind:

Chorus)

Chase your dreams as far as you can;

don't give up no matter what.

Don't be afraid to fold your hands;

thank the Lord for what you've got.

If you fall somewhere along the way

as you're walking down life's road,

just remember there's a few more days

and a few more miles to go.

Verse 2)

Someday you'll look back and see

what it was you used to be,

how much everything has changed,

and how your life was rearranged.

With all that you've been through,

there'll still be work to do.

Time has passed, but there's still time,

so do your best and keep in mind...

(Repeat Chorus)