The great puzzle

“There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable.”
~ Douglas Adams

The belief that we can ever know the purpose of the universe – the totality of it all – is human arrogance. Nothing ever disappears or is replaced, other than our dead-end ideas. The purpose of the universe, of a single life itself, is like an endless spiral of mysteries; an infinity of oddly shaped pieces awaiting our exploration and placement, some of which elude any reasonable fit to anything else. The puzzle of existence remains unfinished.

Revelation

“Man cannot remake himself without suffering, for he is both the marble and the sculptor”
~ Alexis Carrel

It is a painstaking process to remove the extraneous bits of marble that accumulate over time, but there is joy in revealing the beautiful sculpture to be found within. One’s true identity is a continuous act of revelation, not a remaking of anything. We are made in God’s image!

Systems versus nature

“Capitalism cannot reform itself; it is doomed to self-destruction. No universal selfishness can bring social good to all.”
~ W. E. B. Du Bois

Selfishness and selflessness anchor the opposite ends of our individual and collective human nature. Despite our most noble intentions, selfishness will always rear its ugly head to some degree, through every conceivable system and type of organization, from the most greed oriented company to the most Utopian vision of society. There is no escaping this reality.

Recognizing and managing the inherently selfish aspects of our human nature, is the key to minimizing their toxic effects. However, scapegoating the economic and political systems we’ve created as irreparably flawed, is often just another excuse for keeping the egocentric aspects of human nature in the shadows, where they inflict the most insidious forms of damage.

Ironically, it seems that our human behavior is more inflexible than the systems we’ve created to tame it. To reform anything for the betterment of humankind, we need to first reform ourselves.

What kind of person?

Is life so infinitely complex as to defy explanation, or a meaningless collection of random happenings that requires no explanation, other than, “Shit happens?”

What kind of person are you?

A) A person who seeks meaning within the complexities of life. You believe there is an overall progression towards something better or higher; with every thought, feeling, action, inaction, and event being an indispensable contribution towards this upward spiral.

B) A person who believes there is no rhyme or reason to anything that happens. You respond only to the here and now, exploiting whatever feels good and discarding the remainder; relegating the past to nothing more than a comic routine of random events that no longer have any relevance; and avoiding any consideration of the far-off future, leaving it to sentimental Hallmark cards and science fiction fanatics.

C) A person who just goes with the flow for now, having decided that you have no clue as to what is going on or not going on, and waiting for more information or clarification before deciding whether to contribute more to life, or continue being directed by fate, random events, or the loudest voice in the crowd.

There is no right or wrong answer, but most assuredly you fit into one of the three categories, maybe alternating between them, depending upon current circumstances or your changing frame of mind. And sometimes, you may find yourself somewhere between the three alternative mindsets, feeling confused as to whether you are or should be A, B, or C.

Goodbyes

“You’ve just been erased.”
~ Arnold Schwarzenegger, Eraser

I could write a memoir of past goodbyes – not all of them spoken or written.

Often, friends and loves slowly faded away, as if walking towards the sunset, maybe turning around a few times to wave hello or goodbye, but continuing their journey to somewhere else. An almost imperceptible withering of connection, incrementally turning down the volume day by day, until there was absolute silence – a switching off – leaving very little behind of themselves, other than my already eroding memories.

There were unanticipated exits as well. Sudden departures due to a change in circumstances. No warning, other than the terminal, loud bang to my heart, as if the door were slammed from behind, shutting me out in an instant, the weight of our previous years mounting no defense against change.

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