We are headed into “uncharted territory” but change is inevitable. Will we “rise above” the mistakes of our ancestors or are we doomed to repeat history?
”A Farewell to Arms” a poem originally written to by George Peele (1556 – 1596) for Queen Elizabeth and then made famous by Ernest Hemingway (1929) was written about the end of a relationship(Peele) and loss,(Hemingway) during a time of great upheaval.
When I look at those two dates, so far apart in time (but minuscule in ecological time), I wonder if anything really “changes” within humanity. Our perceived self importance in outcomes on our planet and the entire universe for that matter, are never fully understood until the after effects are seen. The machinations of culture and societies are so arbitrary and random and yet we cling to our ideologies fervently in the hope that we are righteous.
”Hindsight” is 2020 so they say, as is perfect vision and here we are in the year 2020 and the world vision is looking a little bleak. Now that we have access to what’s happening everywhere, all the time, it can be a bit disheartening and downright dismaying but there is a silver lining to all this chaos.
Change is the great mediator in all things, not only is it inevitable but it is constant. Whether we like the changes or not, whether we fight them or accept them, we are all players in the game of life. We are such a paradoxical species, us human beings, it never ceases to amaze me, the things we are capable of. We can put a man on the moon but we cannot work out how to care and feed for every individual on our planet. There are those out there who offer solutions but for every solution there is an individual that cries “oh no, that will never work.” The science says that we are killing our planet and yet, short term goals must be achieved by a limited few, irrespective of the long term outcome. Why? Because we hate change, especially when it does not benefit us in the short term. If we can be lulled into a false sense of security by “the spin doctors” then everything will be alright… won’t it?
I read an interesting article by Eaon Pritchard “What does it all Meme,” in AdNews the other day and it highlighted the fact that everything that happens to us collectively, is due to thoughts that catch hold of our imaginations and spread… just like viruses. COVID-19 has been a real eye opener for me and has created many changes in my life. I am not fighting these changes but rather “going with the flow” as all the enlightenment gurus espouse. During the first part of the lockdown, I took part in many “summits” and “experiences” that were offered (for free) by a plethora of online enlightened individuals that assured me they could cure all my ills, if I just followed their advice. Of course, at the bottom of the page the inevitable “All for the low, low, special price exclusively offered for this very short period of time.” Sound familiar? Don’t get me wrong, I think these people are on the right track and why shouldn’t you get paid to help others? At some stage though, the student must surpass the master and create their own wisdom. Otherwise, we are in a perpetual cycle of needing others to solve our problems.
This is the world we live in, this is the world we have made with our incessant need to create, control, strive, achieve and above all else be fulfilled in our lives. We do it, even when we know that it is causing suffering to others because it fulfils our needs. Everyday we are bombarded with imagery of others suffering and need, are our problems getting bigger just because our population has exploded and technology shows us all of our failings? It is overwhelming to say the least. If each of us took responsibility for our actions, there would be no need to “fight” injustice. Fighting doesn’t solve anything, it perpetuates inequality and causes separatism, which is the last thing our fragile little planet needs from us right now. Solidarity, togetherness, compassion and kindness are the true healers and we all have the ability to allow these feelings to work their magic, if we let them flow.
Each day I rise now with no expectation of what the future holds. Whatever happens, I am thankful for the small joys and tender mercies that have befallen me so far in this life.
I wish you all peace, joy and contentment and if you are suffering, may you find someone to help ease your burden.