Secret agents and the secret of life

The last section of the Writing and Rhetoric chapter about kairos really struck me, especially when I read the sentence, "They become agents--those who can act--rather than those who are acted upon." It reminded me of a verse from the Doctrine and Covenants, "For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves."

Sounds like everyone's trying to commission us for some sort of top secret mission! I imagine sneaking around, using advanced rhetorical skills to stealthily "influence the world around [me]," or having some supernatural ability to undermine the forces of evil.

Granted, the textbook and the scripture aren't actually talking about being spies. But the type of agent they are referring to is every bit as powerful as the greatest undercover investigator. Such an agent is one who understands that he is an agent; he recognizes, values, and wisely exercises the gift of agency that he has been given.

We've been learning all about that agency in our Book of Mormon class, but who would have thought that our writing class could teach us about it too? It is amazing to realize that as we learn in a rhetorical context to recognize "significant moments in time" and respond rather than react to them, we are becoming more aware of the great secret of life - our power of agency in every context.

That power is tremendous. It is greater than any superpower imaginable, yet many times we don't even think about it, or worse, act as if we didn't have it.

Picture Superman running on the sidewalk, trying desperately to reach some impending disaster on the other side of the city, as if he had forgotten he knew how to fly. That's just ridiculous. But that's us, every time we allow our circumstances and surroundings to be the sole determinants of our attitudes and actions.

We literally have the power to be happy no matter what. We have the power to do good no matter what.

We're pretty amazing agents!