All together, not an island

John Donne (1572-1631) once wrote the poignant line: “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent.”  It means that human beings do not thrive when isolated from others.  We are more than a social species.  Indeed, though we may forget, we are deeply dependent upon one another.

Sometimes we hear about the latest wondrous invention.  The inventor may earn millions and tell us that he didn't have any help.  .It was solely due to his brawny cranium.  At least that’s what we are told.  But is that true?  The light bulb wasn't invented before someone figured out how to harness electricity.  Freezer bags weren't invented before plastic or refrigeration.  Computer technology depended upon many prior inventions.  All inventions rely upon previous discoveries.

Sometimes we hear the boasts of rich claiming they were self-made billionaires.  Even if do somehow look beyond their wealthy family and myriad of connections, they nonetheless have people working for their behalf.  They aren't alone.

Some people claim we not dependent upon another, insisting social programs are a waste of resources.  Perhaps these people should be excluded from driving on public roads, having public education, going to libraries, having fire fighters battling flames or rescuing others from danger, having security from police, and a myriad of other factors that result from pooling collective resources.  I've never seen one of them deny getting their Social Security check.

Like it or not but we’re all in this together.

"All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated...As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness....No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee."

---John Donne, Meditation XVII, 1624

Opposites

Whether watching TV or viewing our own life, sometimes we fall prey to thinking in terms of black and white.  Regardless of the color of their hats, we have good guys and bad guys, shooting their way through classic movies.  In reality, opposing forces are not as distinct or separate.  The idea of opposites, while sometimes comforting, is a fallacy.

Whatever opposite duos you seemingly observe, closer inspection will unearth a whole spectrum.  It’s all a matter of scale. 

Between black and white is a multitude of shades of gray.  When measuring hot, you’ll find warmth before getting to cold.  Between night and day there is dusk and dawn.  Obscuring the lie between good and bad, we sometimes find bad guys doing and good guys acting badly. The acts themselves, whether good or bad, can vary to the degree of good or bad they entail.

Night does not oppose day.   It simply exists.  Days slowly turn into night, as nights will I time break with dawn.  Neither is at odds with the other.

Hot does not oppose cold.  It simply exists.  Hot water slowly cools and becomes cold.  Neither state is at odds with the other.

In and of its self, goodness exists simply to be good, not fight against bad.  Just simply be good.

Do that which is good first –and do it right away.  When in doubt about the goodness, do those things with reservation, speculation, and with all due consideration. 

Constituting the confines

Through daily interactions people can easily classify the world.  Things are good or bad.  It’s them or us.  This is mine, not yours. Despite all this classifying, do we really know what it is that define us?  With your finger pointing dutifully at your chest you cheerfully say, “This is me!”  Are you simply constituted by the confines of your skin or is there more?

This biological component you point at with such vigor is an assortment of chemicals interacting in a regulated system that we call life.  But this system cannot endure in and of itself.  It requires constant and continual interactions outside of this assumed parameter.  The internal require the external.  Without this flux of external with the internal, the system fails.   There is death.

But even in death, the external forces continue to interact, as the chemicals breakdown.  The body is decomposed, whether by bacteria, worms, or fire.  All the chemicals that were once one thing will eventually be something else.  That something else will in time, as the cycle continues, eventually be renewed in yet another thing.

When you point at yourself and think “me”, we can try to limit it to all the chemicals currently composing that body.  It that sense, you are essentially just mass.  Try holding your breath.  Keep holding.  As the imperative for breathing mounts, you soon realize that you need –absolutely require– air.  When defining you, any definition that fails to encompass your breath leaves you, quite frankly, dead.

What about that stuff in your stomach?  Is that part of you?  Certainly, if it isn't yet, it soon will be.  Without nutrient, the body will wither away and die.  While you may be easily distinguishable from the surroundings, the surroundings are continuously becoming part of you, as you are becoming part of the surrounding. 

It’s been commonly asserted that it only takes seven years to totally recompose a body with all new molecules.  Granted, you may think that you’re looking through the same blue eyes; nevertheless, you’re not.  Even the very molecules that compose your DNA –your genetic component– are in flux.   You may seem static but you’re always changing. 

When defining things, it can seem like a black and white issue; however, all things are part of systems.  There is grey everywhere.  If you trace the interactions, you’ll see that everything is invariably connected.

Everything is connected.  

Criteria

Most people attend their place of worship because they are continuing the same faith they were raised to accept.  Other than finding people with like views, most people don’t put much thought into finding place to worship.  Nevertheless, when seeking such a place, shouldn’t we have some criteria?  (At least criteria that is more encompassing than whether they share doughnuts afterwards.)  For myself, such criteria include devotion to truth, not about finance, focuses on making personal improvements, attendees are respectful and polite, and the preacher instills love and compassion.  Let me explain these.

Truth.  All religions have placed value on truthfulness.  Nevertheless, this hasn’t stopped some from lying.  For example, Catholicism has been caught red handed with their pants down.  Several priests were found guilty of pedophilic conduct.  While that is wrong, what I find just as disturbing is how the church hid this from the community, the news, and their congregations.  They lied and the people who attend by sustaining this institution continue to support the lies.  It’s wrong and shameful –for all Catholic parishioners.  

Truth is also about acceptance of the world knowledge.  As we continue to learn more about how the world operates, our views should change accordingly.   Religions shouldn’t be trying to wage war upon science or trying to redefine scientific insight.  If that means our view on religion evolves, embrace the change for the pursuit of truth.

With a full embrace of truth, we should shun practices that are hypocritical.  Let’s not sing about peace while cheering on war.  Let’s not picket abortion clinics while forgoing helping children in need. Don’t tell me about your vows of celibacy while pedophiling children.

Money.  When you go to worship, do they ask for money?  Do they pass a basket or insinuate a tithe? Like the light of the sun, God’s love and his messages are free.  No one should ever have to pay.

It seems anyone with a gospel and the willingness to speak has the potential of ministering.  Instead it should be limited to masters of faith.  They should seek an honest living –working.  They’re passion and love should be of godly pursuits, which they should share freely.  No money from the congregation should be used to support them.  Being a minister should not be his job.  Being a minister should be his passion.

Should you tithe?  If you can, yes.  If you are struggling financially, you shouldn’t feel ashamed not to give what you don’t have.  If you are doing especially well, you can afford to give more than ten percent and you should do so.  However, you should tithe by helping your neighbor.  Give to the poor.  Buy the hungry food.  Help secure shelter for the homeless.  Giving to a minister isn’t charity.

Betterment.  Are you being challenged to improve yourself?  Are you seeking spiritual betterment?  Your place of worship should be inspiring you to improve.   Each year you should be making strides to being ever more spiritual, ever closer to God.  If you just attend with getting any better, why are you going?

Many religions have routes for forgiving sins. If the same sins are committed over and over, is the person truly learning anything?  It’s likely that being perpetually forgiven is being used as a spiritual crutch. 

Spirituality is a personal voyage.  Being stagnate deters such growth.

Besides making personal improvements, you should be encouraged to help others.  Volunteer to help make the world better, whether you’re helping the poor, your neighbor, some stray animals, or even an environmental concern.

Respectful.  You are influenced by the company that you keep.  If you hang around people who are rude, chances are high that you’ll think and act similarly.  Therefore it is important to seek people that will positively influence you. 

Do they gossip?  Do they show genuine empathy?  If you see them driving, do they cut other off?

Instill love.  There are a lot of people who can make fancy, eloquent speeches.  A minister shouldn’t be about this show of words.  The words should live up his actions.  These actions should grace you with awe and wonder.  You should sense his love and peace.  You should leave dancing with this love and peace.

To become part of a congregation that you didn’t give much consideration over makes little sense.  You should find that place that makes you a better person.  I did and I hope you will, too.

Be True

There are many noble qualities: Just, Wise, Friendly, Courageous, Tolerant, Patient, Honest, Fair, Caring, Honorable, Kind, Empathic, Sincere, Loyal, Sharing, Compassionate, Forgiving, and Truthful to name just a few.  Within the mental image that each of caries of themselves, these qualities are often listed as the framework of one’s character.  Certainly having these qualities contributes to peaceful society.

But is this really you?  Is the image you project toward others different than the image you believe to be true?  Is there a difference?  Disparity between the two is a telltale sign that of an imbalance.

Seriously, think about it.  If you want to be compassionate, which you should, yet you pass those without helping, you may need to reassess your position.  If you think of yourself as caring and tolerant yet routine cut others off in traffic because you have to be first, you may need to reconsider future actions.

We should all hopefully be inspired to aspire to have good qualities.  And certainly mistakes will occur.  However, when we inherently believe we hold these qualities without acting upon them, we are being dishonest with ourselves, others, and the universe.  We are being hypocrites.  Instead of thinking one way and acting another, we should strive to be true.  We should endeavor to be greatness of these noble qualities.

With the same line of reasoning, we can think about our place of worship.  Places of worship routinely teach the merits of peace, nonviolence, love, truth, charity and compassion.  They don’t always live up their teachings.  These congregations are imbalance. 

As you aspire to bring yourself into balance by manifesting these noble qualities, you can inspire your friends to strive for betterment, too.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world.” -Mahatma Gandhi