This post is inspired by Jason Reynolds, author of The Long Way Down. I don't quite get how the book is related to the concept (I'll have to investigate), but I heard Reynolds say that the fact that we are on this journey as humans for the first time gives us great humility and grace for others ("oh, you're here for the first time just like me"). It's a concept that hit me as profound. And, as I think of it, small leanings lend to inimitable tidings. We are all biased in many ways, and it turns out, that's who we are.
But the basis of our leanings is a big story! Of course, the outcomes of our leanings is a HUGE story, but maybe TOO big for a Sunday morning post when I've just taken a gunja toke. Back to the basis...
We all have expectations. These stem from our leanings. Which stem from our perceptions about successful ventures. Which are themselves derived from experience and our innate self. Experience. And our innate self. Man.
Experience tells me whether my leanings are sure things or long shots. My expectations mediate my desires. My expectations also transcend my desires. When push comes to shove I am to lean into my expectations and hope for my desires. If we come to expect what we desire, well, that's a powerful thing. That's the stuff of The Secret. Shhh.
But seriously. How we decide on things is truly a remarkable thing. AI uses leaning as a framework... and it works. The premise, in fact, will surpass us... SOON! So we better get on with learning how we need to be in such a world as a categorical number 2. For starters, we have to let each other LIVE! I mean that in many senses. Sure, perhaps, people who kill people should die (or perhaps not, right?), but, for the most part, we should do our damn best to help each other live. I know that I like being alive. However, not that some don't like to be alive, but because of their learning and disposition, they are poisoned. In fact, we are all poisoned to an extent. And it causes us to be self-destructive. Which causes outer destruction and turmoil. That is being human. We are capable of both wielding and wetting ourselves. Worse than wetting, we may, from time to time, pee in someone's face.
It behooves us to live healthy lives. The better we can do that, in every sense, the better we will see clear eyed and best leverage experience and our gut. That's one thing, to be our best. But another is to consider others. And these two things: self and other are inextricably connected. What I'm trying to think through is how we can include all humans in the equation. Because, on the whole, we humans are dogmatically practical, we easily exclude people if it leads to a better outcome for us. It's downright common sense. And it's the thing that Jesus outstandingly refuted.
And in my mind, that's the idea that has made us most unique and powerful. Benefitting more and more people has become a rallying cry for many in the world! I. Wish. :(
It's breathtaking and sad, Jesus' life. He really came up against it... this common sense about the way to live. It took everything he had, and it killed him. Sure, he is worshipped. But is he revered?!
A long think in a shortcut world. I need more of these. I can see how fragmentary my thinking has become in this bit-sized world. What Jesus said and did mattered. Who he was mattered. It changed us forever. His life became a world-sized contingency. A basis for everything that happens. And there are things like that. Big huge things that have happened that organize reality. When we experience them they become a par to us. And this Jesus thing was just a fundamental shift we have to really give it a good long think. Why ALL OF US?! Let me ask it from another way. Who among is expendable? But it's been said who knows how many times, to er is human!
So that's the rub. We have incredible collective potential, but we are prone to error (and prowess by the way) and we are of limited (and slanted) scope. All of this really is worthy of a long think.
And if we don't get it, this long think, or big picture ideas, we are doomed. By and large, we have not been doomed, but we get closer everyday. And that's why we need grace for each other. We also need a revitalization. We need a basis for why we are alive. All of us, some of us, and me. You and I, we're not dissimilar. I don't even know who you are, but I'm confident that, given a fair shot, I can connect with you. I can. You can. We can connect with each other. And when we do we are enlarged. Right? That's common sense. So, why not all of us?
But we really have to start from the sticky question of: why all of us? It's a tough one. But right down under it, it's because I see in you, something in me, and I want to live. I would hope you do, too. And if we can do that for each other, make living more desirable and hopeful, make our expectations be those things, bright and teeming with prospect, existence becomes filled with abundant life. What a way to live!
I can see so many of these spiritual benefits coming from a narrow scope. In fact, they have to. I can't think of everyone, it's not possible for me. First off, I don't know everyone. I only know who I know, and have experienced what I've experienced. These narrow experiences in the context of reality are my basis for everything I think, say, and do. Jesus, knowing this, gave us a framework for considering everyone. He, and Mr. Rogers, called everyone your neighbor.
At the end of the day, there is no practical reason I can think of for trying to make things as good as possible for all of us. But, man! wouldn't that be something?
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