That life not be governed by fear. James Hollis in What Really Matters.
Everyone has fears. Some about the present; others about the future. Some of us live our lives by rigid black and white rules of right and wrong, either/or, and good and bad. That’s not how life is. I think those folks live frozen by fear of a gray and unpredictable world of change and complexity.
We can confront our fears and step into a time of renewal for ourselves and America. Or, we can deny our fears and push them into the dark shadows. There, frozen by fear, we resist change and greater maturity.
Some of our neighbors want to heal our planet. Others want to devour her in an addictive frenzy. Consuming our biomass is not sustainable.
Some of our neighbors want a robust middle class. Others want a few to get most of the America’s resources. Such inequality is not sustainable.
Some of our neighbors want to treat immigrants with dignity. Others want to build walls and put people in jail. A monoculture is not sustainable.
Some of our neighbors want to evolve rights for women, workers, animals and minorities. Others want to roll back justice for all but themselves. Such regression is unacceptable.
Some of our neighbors want to educate all children. Others don’t seem to care. Uneducated masses do not make for a sustainable democracy.
Some of our neighbors want government to help and protect citizens. Others want everyone to be out for themselves. Such separation is not sustainable. Life requires cooperative relationships.
Some of our neighbors want peace so we can renew America. Others want the distractions of perpetual war in far-away lands. Chronic war is not sustainable.
Some of our neighbors imagine a diverse, creative, cooperative and engaged citizenry. Others have a vision of a paternalistic and wealthy white oligarchy in control. With compliant masses, we regress to a more primitive time. Such an attack on Democracy is not acceptable.
Some of our neighbors live the promise of America’s future. Others model the dark side of America’s past. Allowing darkness to lead us is not sustainable.
Some of our neighbors are willing to change how they live to evolve life. Others are not. Without massive change by all, America will not sustain herself.
Which vision enlarges America; which makes America smaller?
Many of us suffer from a failure of nerve and a distorted perspective of how life works.
Fear should not control our nation and determine her future
Isn’t where we should go obvious?
Tom's Thoughts 
In addressing our fears, prudence is important.
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It should be, but often is not, at least by some. Judy From: Tom’s Thoughts To: spiritwalker63@sbcglobal.net Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2015 6:02 AM Subject: [New post] Isn’t it Obvious? #yiv2511162491 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv2511162491 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv2511162491 a.yiv2511162491primaryactionlink:link, #yiv2511162491 a.yiv2511162491primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv2511162491 a.yiv2511162491primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv2511162491 a.yiv2511162491primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv2511162491 WordPress.com | Tom Heuerman posted: “That life not be governed by fear. James Hollis in What Really Matters.Everyone has fears. Some about the present; others about the future. I think those who live by rigid black and white rules live frozen by fear.We can confront our fears and step ” | |
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It *should* be obvious that the path we’re on is not sustainable, yet about half the nation is clinging to the status quo — or even calling for regression. I’d always attributed it to laziness or greed, but your argument that fear may be a central motivator makes sense: So many Americans seem to be afraid of the future, of change, and especially of forging into the unknown. How sad that in just a few generations we’ve wiped out the spirit of our pioneering ancestors.
Thanks for a truly thought-provoking post, Tom.
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Thanks Heather. I do think greed and laziness are big aspect too.
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PS: It’s a pity so many of us are scared of change, especially where it pertains to our global climate. There’s a good buck to be made in helping to address the problem, if only we put our minds to it! I used to joke that “change equals death.” Now I say — in all seriousness — that “denial equals death.”
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Heather: When it comes to climate change, denial does equal death.
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I believe the purveyors of continual fear and regression (“I want my country BACK!”) are a driving force behind many of the voters who show up at the polls in the last 15 years. I hope young people begin to hear “the bell that tolls” and show up enmasse in the coming elections.
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