"That feeling that we're all searching for isn't about material wealth, about the acquisition of things. It's about being connected with other human beings. That is the essence of humanity."
Bill Mosher, producer of public television's "Visionaries"
Since my last entry big emotions have been rolling through many of my days. The contexts of this turmoil are (1) the political folks getting terribly worked up about this candidate or that candidate while the candidates spend hundreds of million dollars in the hope of getting elected, (2) reading two books (Mountains Beyond Mountains and Three Cups of Tea) about two courageous men who dropped out of the pursuit of riches and comfort in order to serve folks who have practically nothing in Haiti and Pakistan and (3) my ongoing reflection on efforts to understand and accept the personal conflicts in my family.
Simultaneously I hear the news of other folks wondering and worrying about related social changes: gasoline and food shortages, My Space/internet mini-celebrity ugliness (see story here), consumptive activity of never having enough electronic gadgets or shoes or photo gear or houses big enough to contain all this stuff, an epidemic of childhood syndromes like autism, obesity and rudeness, & family - community disintegration.
Is this an epidemic of narcissism set loose by some of the above? Are some of the activities listed a result of narcissism out of control?
All these stressful events seem like distractions, which keep me and us focused on ourselves, on how we can get our share of the good life while avoiding the complicated work of community and family. Will more stuff, stressful acitivity and distraction make us happy?
This morning I heard a story of a photojournalist who has for the past 15 years documented extra-ordinary service a few ordinary folks do among those with the least stuff and few distraction. According to the journalist who documented these folks with nearly nothing but family and community, most are finding fulfillment and happiness. Like some of the folks I met in Vietnam when I visited several years ago. For more on his story go here.
There have been other times in my life when I put energy into finding a mythic Eden or a Norman Rockwell world of harmony, simplicity and multi-generation connections. Such times involved looking into a mirror that did not produce a clear picture. Paraphrasing the Apostle Paul who said it well two thousand years ago … For now we see in a mirror dimly … now we know in part … now we abide in faith, hope and love. The greatest of these is love.
Did he mean we are fulfilled when we connect to others as we hope others will connect to us – while we wait and do the messy complex work of family & community building. The closest we’ll get to Eden on this earth?
I think so.
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"There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again." ~ Elizabeth Lawrence
This may be as close to Eden as we flawed human beings (looking through a glass darkly) get...this is also exactly what I experienced when Jesus came into my heart. Why do we insist on complicating our lives and the lives of others, when really what we need to do is simplify. Simplify our responses/reactions and our perspective on what is really important in life...to simply love and be loved, as Jesus first loved us. One day, each one of us will see him face to face. It's then that only love remains. So, we need lots and lots of experience loving, as we await The Day.
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