Category: Just thinking


Where are the statues?

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May 23, 2011

I grew up in a country where statues, while not as abundant as they seem to be in Europe, are definitely not unusual. You could see them throughout cities, at key towns, etc. standing silently as a reminder of what has occurred or what, from our past, should be honoured.

However, I suddenly realised this week that there are no (I just recalled one on the capitol building) a limited number of  statues here in my new home in the US. I know they exist in this country but in this state they are either well hidden or not as popular. There are memorial gardens, plaques and alike but no sculpture to drag your eye towards them.

So does that mean that a sense of history is lacking? Not at all. But it seems it is handled very differently.

Where statues are  more prevalent I feel that there is a sense of history as what the nation/state was built on. It’s what went before to make us who we are today. The  hardened metal symbolises that the individual or idea being immortalised is important but the faded, weathered and tarnished appearance tightly locks them into the past.

The Bad: History can be regarded as irrelevant to today’s culture.

The Good: It can allow the culture to move forward, to remember and yet have a different future, to maintain a sense of identify and yet refine and enlarge that identity.

Where statues are less prevalent I feel that history is either totally lacking (through ignorance, although I think this is very rare) but more commonly that history is alive and breathing in the minds of the people.

The Good: History can live on in the minds of the people. It is less likely to be lost as it is living and active or left to certain days of the year.

The Bad: History can be distorted by the mind. Also, when it is solidified in the mind, combined with many humans difficulty with change (which requires changes in the mind) then progress can be hampered.

At least this has been my experience so far. Have you a different one?

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Why am I here?

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March 31, 2011

Spring break obviously allows more thinking space based on my return to blogging.

Why am I here? What is my purpose? What is my fate? What is my destiny?

Let me start with the obvious for me. I don’t believe I have a fate. I don’t think anything is written in stone (or the heavens) that will ensure my life will go as dictated. To do so would deny my humanity, I’d just be a robot (not even an animal – sorry to all the web bots indexing this). It would also deny goodness, evil, generosity, love, choice, and responsibility. All these things and many more need choice and freedom to be truly meaningful. ‘What will be, will be’ is a dangerous , shallow and destructive philosophy from my point of view.

Destiny however, is a different story. I do feel like there are options that were set out for my future. A plan for my life. Traditionally, this is seen as things to have achieved, etc. but I’m not so young and idealistic any more. I think my destiny is more linked to who I am meant to be. By being that person I may achieve certain things but those achievement are not the purpose of my life.

I will rest and in rest be who and where I am meant to be, whether anyone sees it or not.

I will give freely as that is who I truly long to be, whether I am recognised or not for my philanthropy.

I will love deeply, even when it’s a choice and difficult, even when no-one sees my struggle and praises my loyalty.

I will try to give someone the benefit of the doubt even if it’s only in my own mind.

I will live in such a way that my legacy may never be measured and try to remember that doesn’t matter.

This and much more is my destiny. I fail often (and wish at those times of weakness for the simplicity of fate) but I’ll keep on the journey. ”Not all those who wander are lost” – J.R.R.Tolkien

To journey (wander) is my destiny.

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Sitting in an empty hall, thinking about truth.

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March 28, 2011

I’m sitting here in an empty hall. The inspiration to play the piano that is present has ceased. More to the point, probably my ability to do anything more of interest has ceased.

Suddenly, the words from that John Keats poem, I think it was ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’ but I may be wrong on that, have entered my mind (my mum would be so proud).

“Beauty is truth and truth, truth beauty –  that is all.

Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.”

(Apologies to all those who are literate if I’ve massacred that from my faulty memory.)

But is truth beautiful?

I know as someone with a desire for truth I romanticize it as beautiful but I think in many cases it is ugly stark and often absurd. It is lacking in subtlety, reflection and continuance. So why do I romanticize it?  Because as a human I have mistook the object of a search, the easily graspable endpoint of a journey, the objects and status possessions linked with higher concepts beyond simple explanation and elevated it, utilizing the same weakness that advertisers use to sell Cola or a car, above the more indefinable aspects of true life.

So while think that truth is not beautiful, I think that wisdom is. Wisdom, for me, is the practical and harmonious outflowing of truth. I also think that it is the search, desire, journey for truth that is beautiful.

But then again, maybe that journey itself  is an act of wisdom (truth in practical and harmonious action).

Does that make sense to anyone else?

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Modern science

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December 12, 2010

Why do I always feel the need to start with a disclaimer?

Disclaimer: I don’t think science itself is folly. Quite the opposite, science is very useful and should be vigorously supported. However, I do find that there is a weakness/inconsistency in the purpose and promotion of science.

Let me explain my thinking thus far…

I feel that modern scientists (at least in the media and to the layman like myself) often portray science as unlocking the mysteries of the world so that we will have knowledge. They also represent the world as finite*. What then will happen when we know all there is to know about our finite universe? Will the human quest for more knowledge become satisfied. I expect it would become personalized in that each individual would not know everything, but what does that do to our culture as humans, to our humanity. I feel we have a human longing to discover, to adventure, to seek out. To know is not simply to acquire but to discover.

What will become of humanity when as a whole this is no longer the case. At this point in time I think I’d like to not have us discover some things (i.e. non-medical) than lose the push and shaping that comes from mystery.

It seems science use to be about questions, today the most honored/publicised science is about answers.

*I don’t see the world as finite so there isn’t really a problem except on how we philosophically tackle science.
P.S. I know this is not fair to many real scientists, but my aim is to provoke thought about how science is delivered to the rest of us.
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Fairy Tales and stories

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November 26, 2010

Hansel and GretelOver the past few years I’ve become increasingly more interested in old fairy tales and stories. Partly because it is so much a part of the world’s education system (we may not always like what Hollywood teaches but it doesn’t mean we haven’t added something new to our knowledge base) but mostly because it seems to be an integral part of our humanity.

It’s this second reason that interests me most as it allows us to glimpse who we are (at our best and worst). Stories and fairy tales tell us what we idealize and what we hate. It snickers at our folly in a way that our pride will not allow us to do directly and yet celebrates our weaknesses. In fact, in a way I believe the stories and fairy tales tell us more about how a group of people thought than history books do. I learned more about the nature of war from Tolkien and why people will under go such a state of pain and terror than I ever did reading the historical accounts of what happened during World War II.

Then we have that the stories that last so often (to me at least) tell us of the nature of humanity not just about the nature of our response to current events. I truly believe they turn a mirror on not just what we do but who we are. For example…

Hansel and Gretel

Take the story of Hansel and Gretel, not because it’s the best example but simply it’s the first one that came to mind and for my premise to stand I can’t rely simply on the easy examples. Why has Hansel and Gretel stood the test of time and what does it tell us about ourselves.

(Insert pause to actually think about this as I’m writing as I think and have a horrible laziness regarding looking back over anything I write.)

My quick musing on Hansel and Gretel:

  • As we see in so many fairy tales, humans want adventure. They may not what to live it but they regard it as spice to their lives. I wonder if we live less adventurous lives in modern times because we feel there is less to discover (could we really be that foolish?) or becuase Hollywood, etc. is providing out need for adventure. Hansel and Gretel go off into the woods…Why? What will they find? Will it be good or bad? Will there be giants to slay or elves to discover? Will there be a hidden world or beauty or an evil regime? What will there adventure be?

What is your adventure?

  • We also encounter the old witch living out in the woods on her own. Does this speak to humanities desire to be part of something else and a lack of understanding around those things that don’t fit in or that remain outside of traditional boundaries.

Have we excluded any people group simple because they live outside our “village”?

  • Isn’t there the slightest bit of outrage that they started eating and destroying something that wasn’t theirs? Can’t the old woman’s outrage be understood? Of course and we do feel that outrage but it is negated by the expectation that this person living outside of normal circumstances is a witch (evil) and that they are children and innocence is seen as an excuse. Philosophically,while innocence/ignorance might justify a holding back of justice or punishment for the sake of mental integrity it doesn’t make an action right. Did the original hearers grapple with this philosophical question? Did it provoke them to consider parenting issues?
  • Finally, the witch is killed by the children. Isn’t this the story we love to hear in all adventures, that the good, even the weak can conquer evil?

At 600 words that’s enough for now and probably more than anyone wants to read but you get the point. Of course it would be an interesting book to lay out an analysis in more detail but I think that would negate our education. I will probably add more thoughts to this blog on different fairy tales at times but I would still encourage reading such stories against our world image. Thoughtful and contemplative reading (as opposed to reading for knowledge or entertainment) is a somewhat lost art.

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Paradox

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November 10, 2010

There’s profound wisdom and power in paradox.  For some paradox is two opposing ideas, which I guess is true, but I like this more explicit definition of paradox a little better: “a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.” (Dictionary.com)

See, in paradox we see both depth, breadth and nuances of life. For example, if we can live in awareness of paradox we are overcome by the beauty of the world and yet want to make a difference and leave it a better place or we can see how important we are and yet not be filled with selfishness.

If I take that last result as an example; The world, universe, not to mention cosmos (which I guess I just did mention) is a very big place. In the scheme of all that exists I am a small speck, a nothing whose time will pass quickly. Yet (As I appreciate paradoxes I appreciate that word even more) I am utterly unique, make a difference in the world conceptually, relationally and physically.

To suggest another example, have you ever noticed how people we think are boring are absolutely fascinated with what they are talking about. Their extreme fascination can be our boredom and in this paradox we find wisdom. “Boring” in the light of this paradox allows us to move beyond superficial labels to a greater understanding. I understand the situation better relationally as well as breaking my self centred world view and coming to a point of realisation that perhaps it is me who is lacking something in this situation rather than the common excuse that they lack etiquette, a life, etc. I lack an awareness of the beauty they are seeing, I lack a sense of what makes that person tick, I lack the energy to look deeper as they have done if I simply label them “boring”.

But the sad thing is, we don’t all live in these paradoxes that stretch us, that enlarge our lives. They are the domain of the artist, conceptual thinker, philosophical and the dreamer. Science understands an object/idea moving between two states back and forth. A single object with multiple states but my world is not one where life and all it involves flips back and forth between states, it’s not even a tapestry that has different threads, it is one glorious mess that can’t be untangled, can’t be separated, that sucks me in and stretches me rather than letting me remotely observe.

Paradoxically, paradox encloses me yet releases me to breathe more deeply, it brings order out of apparent disorder yet destroys my preconceptions and embedded thought patterns.

Photo by Anders Sandburg
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Lottery Hope

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June 16, 2010

Waiting in line at a convenience store today, the gentleman in front of me was purchasing lottery tickets. Numerous tickets. All up it cost him about $18.
After handing over his money the cashier wished him good luck.
Now this is where I really got interested!
The man laughed and replied \”And there\’s lightening outside\”. In short, he was making the point that he had as much chance being hit by lightening as winning. Yet he was handing over $18 (possibly every week)for this slight chance.
Obviously the pain in handing over $18 every week isn\’t the same as being hit by lightening but there is a certain amount of pain in missing something else.
So why endure this pain at your own hand? Hope.
Hope for something better. Hope for a solution to economic conditions (even though from my own viewpoint saving the $18 would be a better solution). Hope for one less concern. Hope for a better car. Hope for a bigger house. Hope for one more thing.
Hope is powerful.

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The Oak Tree

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April 27, 2010

There were three men; Jonah, John and Joshua. These three men had been friends as children but had lost track of each other until finding themselves working on the same construction crew. At lunch one day, John declared “Look at that Oak tree. It’s so amazingly beautiful. It is a fine treasure that is too precious for any man to own.” Jonah looked sideways at John, “Same mystical John as when we were kids,” he said, “Grow up and declare the wonder of God not the tree”. With that he walked off in disgust to find another donut.

John was not disturbed at all by this and continued staring rapturously at the old Oak tree. Joshua smiled in agreement and whispered, “It is an awesome tree.”

The next day at lunch the three men were sitting again in the same spot and John declared “Look at the Oak tree. It’s so amazingly beautiful. It is a fine treasure that is too precious for any man to own.” Jonah had no time for such nonsense today and busied himself with updating his facebook status on his cell phone. Joshua smiled in agreement again and said, “It is very beautiful, and look how the branches rest against the blue of the sky.”

John agreed in silence revering the majesty of the great tree.

The next day the three men were together for lunch but Jonah refused to sit down, he was preparing for a quick getaway. He asked how they were, if their families were well and commented about reckless dreaming and the foolishness of seeking the result without knowing the source, that neither John or Joshua understood, before excusing himself to get some task down. John loved the great Oak tree very much and looked upon it, adoring the way the blue sky and the color of the leaves balanced each other so well. He also noticed how the wind softly moved the leaves and commented that the tree was not only strong and powerful but the wind through the leaves gave it a great gentleness and gracefulness. ‘Let’s go sit in the tree” suggested Joshua, and so they did and enjoyed the light breeze against their tired and warm faces. “Thank you” whispered Joshua. John didn’t know about this God stuff that he knew Joshua believed in but agreed that he was at least thankful to the person who had planted the tree and so nodded his head in agreement.

Many weeks passed and each day Joshua and John would talk, laugh and enjoy their lunch in the branches of that great oak tree while Jonah would wave hello if he happened to pass before hurrying on his way.

Suddenly, tragedy hit! One night, there was a great storm (the largest in recorded history) and while coming back from a get together with friends where he was the designated driver Joshua’s vehicle was hit by a drunk driver who lost control of their car in a mix of inebriation and bad road conditions. They rushed Joshua and his friends to the hospital but Joshua’s wounds were too bad and he died soon after making it to the operating theater.

That same night a large bolt of lightning and high winds damaged the oak tree knocking the tree over so the bulk of the tree lay flat along the ground. News traveled quickly through the small community and the next morning before work started John visited the old Oak tree to remember the times with his friend, only to find it fallen also. Tears filled his eyes as he knelt by the tree, rested his elbows on the now horizontal tree trunk and looked into the sky that now seemed much bigger without the branches of the tree filling. He prayed, “God, thank you for the beauty of this tree and thank you for Joshua who stretched my appreciation of it.”

Jonah saw John kneeling and, thinking to himself how it took the tragedy of a lost friend to bring John to his senses, walked over and rested a hand on his shoulder.

Photo by Franco Folini
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Organized Religion

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April 26, 2010

Yup, I heard it again recently. ..”I don’t like organized religion.”

Now let me be clear if you truly feel that way, I’m OK with that, I am often frustrated with organized religion myself and often wish I could explain myself and beliefs without using any terms that associates me with groups that fit in this category, nevertheless I find that when it is used it isn’t an intellectually true statement.

Let me explain, so often when the above phrase is said I know the person, I like the person, at least 50% of people I now consider friends fit in this category so I know their lives, have shared in their hurts and triumphs and watched their personal journey. So often, what they mean is “I don’t like the idea of someone telling me what I should believe.” I fully understand that but it doesn’t ring true for me anymore for the following reasons:

1. People are always telling you what to believe but as adults we should grow into “testing everything”. My friends who make this statement are often told what to believe by advertising, government, friends, family etc. and sometimes they accept it, unfortunately they do so on the basis of the next point.

2. It’s too often an easy way out. So often people making this statement want the guise of having a spiritual dimension but will often limit their understanding or search in areas (or allow themselves to be influenced by friends, advertising, etc.) They accept what is easy based on their understanding or worst yet, desire, which while natural is not a true quest for spiritual discovery. Yes, I know that organized religion does this as well and I don’t think it’s healthy for them either.

3. These days while belonging to a larger group of people (denomination or religious structure) places of worship can be found relatively easily who accept you if you have different ideas. Doesn’t mean that they’ll accept them or follow them (nor should they, and neither should we expect them to if we expect them to provide us with the same latitiude).

4. Modern anti-institution thinking is a trend that often:

  • simply replaces a named of institution with an unnamed one and in practice is actually not anti-institutional.
  • means missing out on the advantages of groups. I am glad and happy there are groups looking after the homeless and/or unemployed, caring for victims of natural disaster or lobbying government for change (even if I disagree with them). Based on the current actions of most individuals the world would contain far more hurt and pain without them, and even if people started to be more generous can you imagine 50 builders trying to build a house together without plans or a foreperson let alone provide effective relief to Haiti or the homeless?

So, if you are truly making the effort to grow and journey spiritually, especially allowing your thoughts to be challenged but are more comfortable outside of organized religion then go in peace and may the rich blessings of God be upon you. More power to you, but let’s get past (as it at least feels to me at the moment) automatically associating organized religion with dominance of thought or it’s rejection being equivalent to true spiritual freedom and enlightenment.

As always there is so much more to say but I guess that’s where commenting and ongoing conversation are useful (hint, hint).

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Freedom

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April 2, 2010

A few weeks ago Graeme Codrington published a post on ‘Thoughts on the Tyranny of Freedom‘. I must confess I haven’t read it yet because I’ve been working through my own thoughts but I will do so after completing this and recommend you do as well. That and a sticker on my neighbors car proclaiming ‘Freedom isn’t free” has kept the idea in my mind. As always I use this site as an opportunity to ramble and throw out ideas, not to necessarily present a complete view of a topic, so be prepared for more questions than answers by the end.

Here, in the land of the free (U.S.), freedom sometimes seems to be the ultimate right, the most precious commodity. Everyone should be allowed to do anything they wish. The largest frenzies seems to erupt over any, perceived or real, threat to freedom. But is freedom overrated or even possible? At what point does my personal freedom stop?

If I was actually totally free to do whatever I wanted would I be happy? I’d have to say ‘No’. 3 scenarios jump to mind.First of all, lets say I restrict myself cause I don’t want to hurt anyone else. I could move away from all other humans and do whatever I want. In doing so I have restricted my geographical freedom. Alternatively, I could simply restrict my actions as not to affect anyone else. But again I have restricted my total freedom based on ethics (either inherent or cultural prescribed). The third options is that I don’t worry about anyone else, hurt who I wish, where I wish. Then I become a psychopath and give away my capacity to care (which to be pedantic would be a loss of my emotional and, in my thinking, human freedom.)

(There was a long and boring treatise on how binding ourselves to an ideal of freedom is a philosophical binding and denial of freedom of our philosophical/psychological selves but I’ll let you think that through for yourself)

Another thought, If ‘freedom isn’t free’ then we either needed to purchase it or take it. It seems often that we don’t purchase it, work for it or fight for it (unfortunately many have used this as a euphemism for take it), but rather we deny the freedom of another and take it thus becoming enemies of freedom.

Is freedom irrelevant? Absolutely not for reasons expressed in the next paragraph on what to do with freedom. I should where possible seek freedom, especially for others. as the vlogbrothers (roughly quoted) said: Freedom is one of my ultimate concerns, something I would die for. Not my own freedom of course because I’d be dead, but for those I love.

What should I do with the freedom I do possess? I believe we need to grow up. A little kids boasts about having the freedom to stay up later at night than siblings or friends. To boast of freedom is child-like. The deeper more mature questions is what is the purpose of my freedom? What can I affect, who can I bless, what is my responsibility? Not simply “freed” but “freed for _________________”.

I know this is complicated. For example:

Should I support taking freedom from some to give freedom to others? (My answer: Control yes. Freedom, no)

Is government regulation bad as it reduces personal or corporate freedom: (My answer: No)

Should the government be able to oppress it’s people? (My answer: No)

But, with government regulation don’t you open the risk of oppression? (My answer: Yes, there is that risk)

etc.

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