Cleanup crews are working feverishly to deal with a massive oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico.  An explosion of unknown origin damaged the rig and the failure of the blowout preventer, a backup system for containing spills of this type located nearly 5,000 feet below the ocean’s surface, compounded the containment efforts (http://tinyurl.com/2fdda38).

Earlier today, a young man in Anywhere, USA, found himself in a stressful situation that culminated in an outburst of unknown origin.  The emotional outburst caused angry words to be exchanged (some perhaps understandable but all regrettable) and the destruction of two long-time friendships.  The man’s personal blowout preventer unfortunately failed to contain the explosion.

Large environmental disasters like the current one we’re facing in the Gulf of Mexico are tragic, but the accumulation of personal disasters created on earth due to failures in the individual’s blowout preventer each day worries me far more.  Personal blowouts – lost tempers, impatient outbursts, cutting and snide remarks, low blows, backstabbing, pity-parties, repetitive dramas, not to mention the actual outbursts that involve physical violence or harm of some type – tear at the fabric of humanity and gnaw on the human spirit.

The article link above shows a diagram of the undersea blowout preventer, an interesting and marvelous contraption designed to function under the tremendous pressures of the deep sea.  It is incredible what the human mind can design to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, isn’t it?  At any rate, while analyzing the diagram I began to wonder how the individual or personal blowout preventer would be constructed.  What materials would we use and how would we piece them together? 

In yesterday’s post we opened an analysis of the necessity of practical wisdom to preserve the creative human spirit and to strengthen the capacity for self-governance.  I am amazed at how few people really seem to grow up anymore, to graduate beyond teenage function both emotionally and mentally.  Such a failure to grow up requires more restrictions, more laws, more rules to guide behavior and function, and there seems to be no end to the proliferation of red tape, bureaucracy, rules and systems designed to regulate, guide, shape or control every sphere of activity in our great nation.

Many complain that we have become too litigious.  Others feel that we as Americans have lost our work ethic over the last handful of decades.  To me, these are just a symptom of a deeper cause, namely, the growing shortage of practical wisdom in our people.  The dumbing-down of our country is evident in the declining performance of our educational system, in the lack of competitiveness of our workforce in critical areas as well as in a general attitude of complacency in the face of the erosion of personal rights over the last few decades. 

The very rules and systems designed to improve processes and systems and thereby enhance the competitiveness and productivity of our country seem to be producing the opposite effect.  The more we embrace the cookie-cutter approach to education, to work, to government, the duller our capacity for practical wisdom and self-governance becomes.  A vicious cycle, yet one that can be broken.

I see practical wisdom and strength of character as a personal blowout preventer.  In general people are not given the tools necessary to successfully prevent blowouts in their lives.  Character is not sufficiently nourished and practical wisdom is not given enough time, permission or mentorship and as a result, individual blowouts and personal failures occur far more often than they should.

What areas do you see in yourself that could use fortification, toning and improvement?  If the emergency broadcasting system were to run a test on your blowout preventer today, would it function as it should or would we be facing a crisis like we’re facing in the Gulf of Mexico now due to weakness or malfunction of the system either at the surface or somewhere deep down in you?

Patience, largesse, ingenuity, esprit de corps, magnanimity and humility are just a few of the components of an effective and strong blowout preventer, and all of these qualities of character are available to anyone who chooses to utilize them in their living.

Even if you slip up and lose it in some way, you can always start with this basic premise to move forward, to climb out of a rut or to overcome an obstacle that just moments prior seemed insurmountable: “I can be a blessing in this situation and I will do nothing further until I find the release point for blessing.”

Take the time necessary to test and improve your personal blowout preventer.  Avoid disasters both big and small through prevention.  This is not something that can be legislated, produced by a checklist or mapped out in a flow chart for you.  Your personal blowout preventer is built from the inside out, as the result of conscious and deliberate thought, word and deed over time. 

Right action can serve as confirmation, mistakes can be used as learning experiences.  One by one we can rebuild a nation where practical wisdom and strong character are no longer the exception, but the rule.

Enjoy your Sunday!