For the past week I have been writing to amuse both you, dear reader, and myself. I have been writing in the light and easy tones of a typical blogger or newspaper columnist.
There may be some merit available in gently humorous description, but not a great deal. There is no grappling with what really matters. I'll leave "what really matters" open-ended for now.
And so let me begin with a short rant so commonplace as to be invisible: we have forgotten. No, let me begin again: I have forgotten what it means to deeply engage with the issues and challenges, the ideas and realities that fill the world outside my comfortable little nest.
Instead, I've become incredibly adept at entertainment. I have literally developed a thousand ways to amuse myself to death. What do I do? It doesn't matter, except to say that you don't need a television to waste time. I've spent more than a dozen voracious years consuming. And in doing so have embraced a shallow and vast dilletantism. If you'll excuse the obvious metaphor, over the years I have become not a deep and clear well of knowledge, but an endless mud puddle filled with disjointed snippets of news and culture.
I'm going to stop here for the evening, right at the very beginning. But before I go, let me ask you, are you doing all that you can to stand up for what you believe? When I ask myself that question, the answer is obvious and immediate and depressing.
-to be continued
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Wow. I have been asking myself and pestering others around me as of late with the following question:
ReplyDelete"What is the biggest most audacious game you can play in life?"
At some point, in my reality tunnel, it life is a game. There is a beginning and an end, and I want to know that I ended up winning. Winning to me is not about having the most toys or tokens, but knowing that my life was worth something.
I think the best thing about the current economic climate is that all the people not playing their big most audacious game are getting their world rocked. Those who are, are resolute in what they need to do and an economic downturn is the least of their worries.
As much as I resonate with the words you write, I would argue that you are not only a patchwork of popular culture soundbites - that is merely the pond scum the one must wade through to get to the murky depths of your well.
My guiding philosophy as of late is:
"If you are suffering you cause suffering in others. The only way to allieviate your suffering (thus not causing suffering in others) is to give your gifts."
Life is a gift. Being able to live in a country founded on freedom and opportunity is a gift. So I throw back at you, dear author, are you giving your gift?